A major stake in the development and production of its next fighter should reap huge benefits for the Italian aerospace industry
W ith its signing of the memorandum of understanding for the production, sustainment and follow-on development (PSFD) phase of the Joint Strike Fighter programme in February, and US government approval to establish a final assembly and check-out (FACO) facility in the country, Italy is set to capitalise on its commitments to Lockheed Martin's F-35 by creating a regional support centre for Europe and expanding its industrial participation.
"Italy is the second largest contributor partner after the UK in the PSFD phase with a $903 million investment, which will see $158 million in spending between 2007 and 2011 and a further $745 million between 2012 and 2046," says undersecretary for defence Lorenzo Forcieri.
After a concerted effort by government and industry, an F-35 FACO facility is to be built at Cameri air base, near Novara, in the Piedmont region of north-west Italy. The facility will assemble aircraft for the Netherlands as well as Italy, thanks to an MoU signed in March 2006 between the two countries.
Italian government final approval and initial funding for the facility are expected in late 2007-early 2008, says Forcieri. Both countries' defence ministries, Lockheed and Alenia Aeronautica, as the leading company for Finmeccanica and other national industrial bodies, are working on plans for building the facility. Forcieri adds that a decision on aircraft acquisition is expected in 2010, so that F-35 deliveries can start by 2014.
The Italian site will be operated by Alenia under contract to Lockheed Martin. Alenia will flight test and deliver aircraft, through Lockheed, to the JSF programme office, which will deliver the F-35s to the customers. "The second FACO in Italy would have to be cost-neutral for the programme," said Tom Burbage, Lockheed executive vice-president for F-35 programme integration, at the Paris air show.
The Italian government will fund the facility, with construction and equipment provided almost totally by local companies. Although a detailed study has yet to be completed, costs are expected to be less than $250 million, while construction, operation and support of the FACO could employ 1,000 people. Security and technology transfer arrangements for assembly, test, maintenance, support and implemention of national modifications, such as the integration of European-designed and manufactured weapons, have already been agreed, according to a long-term plan.
Regional support centre
In addition to assembly of Italian and Dutch F-35s, for a total of more than 200 aircraft, including 131 planned for Italy, the FACO is also being proposed as a regional support centre for other JSF partners, such as Norway, and potential customers such as Spain, which will need to replace its Boeing AV-8B Harriers.
The MoU signed in 2006 by the Italians and the Dutch also includes a maintenance, repair and overhaul capability for the F-35's engines and onboard equipment to be located in the Netherlands. More recently, at a meeting in Rome to strengthen co-operation between prospective European JSF operators, which included Danish, Dutch, Italian, Norwegian and Turkish representatives, Italy, the Netherlands and Norway signed an MoU on the support for the aircraft. "During the meeting, it was also decided to establish a working group to verify the conditions for Turkey to fully participate to the F-35 European footprint," says Forcieri.
Acquisition contract
Italy's defence ministry has outlined a requirement for 131 aircraft to be delivered between 2014 and 2025 to the air force and navy, respectively, to replace the AMX and Panavia Tornado attack aircraft, and multi-role AV-8B Harrier II Plus. To receive the first aircraft in 2014, the Italian MoD will have to sign an acquisition contract in 2010 and begin production in 2012. "The Italian air force still has to decide, within the 109 nominally allocated aircraft, how many aircraft will be required in the CTOL and STOVL versions," says Lt Gen Giuseppe Bernardis, air force deputy chief of staff.
"The [F-35] Lighting II will operate alongside the Eurofighter in air-defence and air-to-ground missions, offering a huge leap in terms of offensive and defensive power-projection operations, and introducing unprecedented net-centric warfare capabilities," Bernardis says. "In the long term, the JSF is also foreseen replacing the Tornado ECR [electronic combat and reconnaissance version], funding and force strength permitting," he adds. Italian air force F-35s are expected to be based at the Istrana and Amendola AMX and Ghedi Tornado bases.
"The aircraft will be delivered in Block 3 standard and following production batches will have specific requirements including Small Diameter Bomb, JDAM and later the IRIS-T air-to-air missile," says Bernardis, adding that Italy has yet to decide how to participate in the F-35's initial operational testing and training process, and is looking also to join international initiatives.
Rear Adm Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, head of naval aviation, says: "Italian navy aviation is to receive 20-22 aircraft in the STOVL version, with deliveries from 2014 and deployment as soon as possible on board the new 27,000tCavour aircraft carrier," which is to enter service in 2008 and is specifically equipped to handle the JSF, "We will station our F-35s at Grottaglie airbase near Taranto main naval station and we expect to maintain the commonality with the US Marine Corps already experienced with the AV-8B, adopting precision-guided munitions and air-to-air and anti-ship missiles to carry out defensive and offensive embarked operations," he adds.
Investment
Italy has committed $1.03 billion to the JSF system development and demonstration phase, spread over 11 fiscal years from 2002 to 2012, corresponding to a 4.1% overall contribution to the programme. "Putting together the already signed contract and the commitments obtained for work by the around 20 Italian major companies involved in the JSF development and low-rate initial production phases, we have almost covered our investments in the programme in about four years since Italy's government joining," says Forcieri.
Finmeccanica, presented by Alenia Aeronautica and other subsidiaries, is the key Italian industrial player in the programme together with Avio, leading on the engine side, and other companies that are planning a long-term involvement through the F-35's life cycle. Most of these companies have signed with Lockheed and its US and UK Level 1 and 2 partners a number of MoUs and letters of intent defining the potential areas of involvement.
In addition to running the planned FACO, Lockheed has given Alenia responsibility for structural design of the outer wing box for the conventional take-off and landing and carrier variant versions - the only JSF design work to be conducted outside the USA and the UK. Alenia has also established itself as a second-source wing provider, with estimated production of around 1,300 wings between 2010 and 2028. Alenia will manufacture the wings at centres across Italy: carbonfibre skins at the Foggia facility, machined components at Nola and structural and system assembly in Piedmont facilities.
"Production of wing major components, like the composite skins and major assemblies, is expected to start from 2009 as part of LRIP 3, leading progressively to the delivery of complete wings by 2012, with the goal to deliver the first equipped Italian aircraft in 2014," says Giovanni Bertolone, Alenia Aeronautica chief executive.
Targeting system
Further work opportunities are expected in maintenance, repair, support and upgrade activities. Selex Sensors & Airborne Systems, through its subsidiaries in Italy and UK, is involved in the electro-optical targeting system.
Galileo Avionica has been selected by BAE Systems North America to develop components for the electronic-warfare suite, by BAE in the UK to develop the ejection seat firing module and by Northrop Grumman for distributed aperture system components.
Selex Communications has been contracted by Northrop to supply the back-up radio, with up to 2,700 units to be delivered between 2011 and 2027.
Oto Melara has been selected by General Dynamics as a second source for the 25mm gun in the CTOL version, beginning with the last development aircraft.
Elsag Datamat is involved in the autonomic logistics information system, training system support centre, supply chain management and maintenance planning. Elettronica is aiming to be selected by BAE to provide EW components and logistic support. Avio is participating in both the Pratt & Whitney F135 and General Electric/Rolls-Royce F136 powerplant programmes.
The F135 programme also involves Piaggio Aero Industries. Aerea is also co-responsible for the rail launcher and provides fuel, flight control and stores management system components, while Secondo Mona is involved with hydraulic actuators, manifolds and fuel valves. Other companies contracted or set to be involved are Alenia Aermacchi, Gemelli, Logic, Mecaer, Moog, Oma, Sicamb, S3Log and Vitrociset.
Source: Flight International
