Strong challenge from Eurofighter prompts Lockheed Martin to place contracts
The Lockheed Martin-led Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) programme is working urgently to place work with Norwegian industry in the face of a strong push by Eurofighter to displace the F-35. Oslo can decide to opt out of JSF this month, a year after joining the development effort.
Of the eight partner nations that have collectively committed $4.5 billion towards the cost of developing the F-35, level 3 participant Norway has to date received the least work and is regarded as the country most likely to drop out of the programme.
Norway has allocated $100 million to JSF development over the next nine years, but has not committed to ordering the F-35. It is expected to hold a competition in 2008 and Eurofighter has already placed flaperon and rudder work with Kongsberg and a deal with Thales of Norway to better position Typhoon.
The Joint Programme Office has modified its global best-value approach to placing subcontracts with participating countries to include a "strategic best value" exemption (Flight International, 17-23 June). This permits certain work to be set aside for contractors that meet cost and schedule requirements. Components already identified for selected placement include arrester hooks and some ground support equipment.
"We see some international countries are having difficulties winning work or are not competing because they are not used to doing business in the USA. For industries that are lagging, and if they meet cost and capability requirements, we have reserved work. This is a little bit of an excursion, but is helping in some ways," says Tom Burbage, Lockheed Martin JSF programme general manager.
Lockheed Martin claims that work has been identified for all eight nations and that the only country that has so far has not won a contract is level 3 partner Turkey. The US company is hoping to place wing pylon and some wiring harness work with Turkish Aerospace Industries in the near future.
Source: Flight International
