Lockheed Martin F-35A fighter jets land on the highway

OSLO, Sept 22 (Reuters) – Norwegian military footage showed two F-35A Lockheed Martin fighter jets landing on a highway for the first time, a move that enables them to reduce vulnerable time on the road. Earth in times of war.

Two Royal Norwegian Air Force planes landed in Tervo, central Finland, on Thursday afternoon, as part of a military exercise.

The Norwegian military said that immediately after landing, refueling took place with the engines running, so-called “hot refueling”, before the planes took off again.

“Combat aircraft are vulnerable on the ground, so by being able to use small airfields — and now highways — (this) increases our survivability in war,” Maj. Gen. Rolf Volland, commander of the Royal Norwegian Air Force, said in the statement.

Finland, which joined NATO in April, shares a 1,300-kilometre border with Russia. Norway is a founding member of the alliance.

Another type of F-35, the F-35B, is capable of landing vertically, and has landed on roads before. This was the first time this special version of the F-35 could not land vertically.

F-16s are also capable of landing on roads.

Finland plans to purchase 64 F-35 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin.

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