[heyda]

Doesn't really rule out the P-8, apparently Norway has had P-8's since 2021, in order for an aircraft to be 'fully operational' you have to do training/exercises, fly the aircraft. If the Norwegian Air Force wanted to have the P-8 fully operational by Jan 30 2023, they had to have been flying sorties before then.

https://www.arctictoday.com/norway-takes-delivery-of-boeing-...

[nkurz]

In confirmation, here's a press release saying that they have been making training flights with their P8's since June 22, with plans to make 2 flights a week: https://www-forsvaret-no.translate.goog/aktuelt-og-presse/ak...

[usrusr]

Tom Clancy would disavow having served as inspiration if the story did not feature secret prototypes! (I know nothing about Tom Clancy and his works, that's just how I imagine them to be like: not full-out "future gear porn" but a well-balanced moderate dose of it?)