OSLO, Norway, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- The Norwegian government proposed a 9.8 percent increase for its defense budget in 2016, which includes more funding for F-35 procurement.
The $526 million increase would bring Norway's defense budget to about $6 billion, and would almost double the funding for Lockheed Martin's F-35 Lightning II fighters. Lockheed Martin, a U.S.-based arms and aerospace manufacturer, began producing the fighters for Norway in August 2015. The F-35 procurement plan makes up the majority of the increase, which also covers strengthening the country's Intelligence Service as well as increasing High North patrols.