Mon, Dec 28, 2009
UK Has Invested $2 Billion In F-35 Development
The Joint Combat Aircraft (JCA) program says that the United
Kingdom has received financial approval to purchase its third
Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II operational test aircraft,
reinforcing the U.K.'s continued commitment to the Joint Strike
Fighter program's upcoming Operational Test and Evaluation
(OT&E).
"The U.K. this week received financial approval to go ahead and
purchase the third U.K. STOVL OT&E aircraft that is planned
within LRIP 4. Given the extremely tight financial climate in the
U.K. government and the consequent impact across public spending,
especially defence, this is a significant achievement," said Air
Commodore Graham Farnell, the U.K.'s Joint Combat Aircraft Team
head. "I believe it reflects well upon the JSF program and it is a
measure of the confidence that the U.K. has in both the F-35
Lightning II and the program to deliver this capability."
This approval follows recent F-35 down-select or procurement
commitments by Australia, Norway, the Netherlands, Italy and the
United States. The strength of the F-35 business case has enabled
program suppliers to obtain the capital financing needed to
recapitalize the industrial base and produce the F-35 in high
quantities over the next 30 years.
"The United Kingdom's participation in F-35 Operational Test and
Evaluation, and the associated commitment to purchase F-35s in
early production lots, help ensure production stability as we move
from the current assembly rate of one aircraft per month to our
goal of one per day," said Matt Maxwell, Lockheed Martin director
for F-35 Low Rate Initial Production.
The U.K. has invested $2 billion in the F-35's development - the
largest contribution among the program's eight partner nations.
More than 100 British companies are involved in the program,
including BAE Systems, which produces the aircraft's aft fuselage
and tails; Rolls-Royce, developer and manufacturer of the
shaft-driven lift fan and other propulsion components for the F-35B
STOVL variant; and Martin Baker, maker of the jet's ejection
seats.
FMI: /www.lockheedmartin.com
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