“The helicopter nightmare has made Norway vulnerable. It will continue for a while longer. “
The military has to go shopping for billions again – without having a clue what they need.
Now that was enough. Basta. Finito.
It has been 21 years since the agreement between the Armed Forces and the European helicopter manufacturer NHIndustries was signed, but the 14 maritime helicopters of the type NH90 would never be delivered in the shape that was loved.
An endless nightmare of errors, delays, obsolescence and lack of spare parts has given an entire generation of defense ministers and chiefs of defense sleepless nights.
Norway has now terminated the agreement, and demands five billion kroner repaid, Minister of Defense Bjørn Arild Gram could tell at a press conference in the Ministry of Defense on Friday.
It does not happen a minute before sent.
I too long the Norwegian coast has been more vulnerable than necessary. The capacity for everything from hunting Russian submarines to conducting fisheries supervision and search and rescue has not been close to what is wanted and required.
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