PAUL LEWIS / WASHINGTON DC
Programme chiefs shift approach to "strategic best value"
The Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) programme office is hoping a shift towards a "strategic best value" approach to placing some contracts internationally will help address complaints from a number of partner nations about not securing a share of the work.
Eight nations signed deals with the USA to share in developing the Lockheed Martin F-35 JSF at differing degrees, contributing $4.5 billion in total. The amount a country provides gives no guarantee of the amount of work it will receive. Decisions instead are made on a "best value" basis. While the UK has done well, other smaller nations such as Denmark and Norway have not and have voiced dissatisfaction.
"We're making progress getting partners used to competing for work. The other thing we're trying to do is what we call strategic best value. Where Lockheed Martin, General Electric and Pratt & Whitney are aware of the political issues they are seeking opportunities for partner countries where local industry meets cost and schedule targets. It's a win-win solution," says Gen Jack Hudson, JSF programme director.
The programme office, meanwhile, still aims to close the F-35 preliminary design review (PDR) by the end of June after a three-month delay. So far the programme has managed to avoid any impact on the planned October 2005 first flight of the F-35 by working on some of the other 4,000 linked events needed for the aircraft to fly.
"We kept PDR open because we needed to work three main things: weapons integration; routeing cables and plumbing; and structural weight. We saw some in efficiencies and didn't want a heavy aircraft. We'll not close PDR until these are fixed or we've a high confidence they will be. I anticipate closing at the end of the month," says Hudson.
Source: Flight International
