GRAHAM WARWICK / WASHINGTON DC
Closure of Harrier production line could make future modifications unaffordable
Italy and Spain may have lost the chance to complete their Harrier II Plus fleet plans without incurring the cost of restarting the AV-8B remanufacturing line at Boeing.
The last remanufactured aircraft on order is scheduled for delivery in late 2003 and planning has begun to shut the line down in 2004.
The Spanish navy has signed a long-lead contract to remanufacture three more EAV-8Bs, for a total of five, but has been planning to upgrade all nine of its day-attack aircraft to radar-equipped Harrier II Plus standard.
Even if Spain finds the funds to remanufacture the remaining four "there will be a line gap, and higher cost", says Boeing AV-8B programme manager Dave Bowman.
Earlier this year, Bowman says, the Italian navy did not exercise its option to remanufacture four to eight ex-US Marine Corps day-attack AV-8Bs to complete its Harrier II Plus fleet.
"We tried to work out innovative ways to protect their position in the line, but they are not ready to fund them until the first quarter of next year," Bowman says. "The [line] gap could make it cost-prohibitive," he adds.
Remanufacture of 74 Marine Corps day-attack AV-8Bs, under a multi-year contract scheduled to end in 2003, could be stretched to help close the line gap, but it could also be accelerated, Bowman points out.
"The Marine Corps wants the aircraft as quick as possible...[but] they want the line to stay open as long as possible." He says a number of "what ifs" are being studied.
The future of Marine Corps aviation has been called into question by reports that US defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld has ordered a study into the incorporation of USMC fixed-wing capability into the US Navy.
Other reports suggest the US Department of Defense is considering eliminating the short take-off and vertical landing version of the Joint Strike Fighter, intended to replace USMC's Harriers.
Bowman says Boeing is working with the US Navy to plan the transition of the AV-8B remanufacture line to a post-production support role after it is shut down in 2004.
Options range from scrapping the tooling to keeping it in "hot storage" - leaving it in place on the factory floor.
"It is likely we will keep selected tools needed to repair an aircraft damaged in service, and scrap or store the rest," he says.
Source: Flight International
