Norway has decided that the urgent need for new fighters, and the long-term need for more advanced aircraft, will force them to divide their planned purchase of up to 48 new aircraft into two different types. The first would be a fighter to enter service in 2005, with the F-16C50N and the Eurofighter Typhoon the top contenders. The Joint Strike Fighter would then be the likely choice for a second batch of aircraft in 2015.--Stephen V Cole