Norwegian F-16s for ISAF in Afghanistan

Norwegian Ministry of Defence, Norway is to send 3 to 4 F-16 aircraft to Afghanistan for a period of three months in spring 2006. The aircraft will be under the command of ISAF and will be stationed in Kabul. The Norwegian contribution will form part of the F-16 cooperation agreed between a number of European countries.  
 
It is NATO that has requested Norway to make combat aircraft available to the International Security Assistant Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. The purpose is to ensure that ISAF has access to combat aircraft capable of demonstrating a presence and, if necessary, of providing close air support to units on the ground if critical situations should arise. In emergency situations, aircraft under ISAF