PAUL LEWIS / FORT WORTH
Government recruits Rand to prepare feasibility study
The UK government has commissioned US-based think-tank Rand to conduct a feasibility study into a second Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) final assembly line in the UK. The move comes as some partner nations led by Norway are expressing dissatisfaction with the amount of programme subcontracting work awarded to overseas companies.
Plans call for a single F-35 assembly line at Lockheed Martin's Fort Worth, Texas, plant for US and overseas needs. Lockheed Martin says it can produce 17 to 22 aircraft a month based on existing floor space, tooling and its ability to fly and test aircraft, but this falls short of the expected peak demand of around 30 a month.
"If you look at the quantity of aircraft we will have to build, we'll either have to add more capacity or bring on a second source. We've talked about it, but have not yet settled on anything," says Henry Levine, Lockheed Martin deputy F-35 JSF programme manager. Lockheed Martin also has responsibility for producing the aircraft's fore body and wing, although Alenia has been selected as a second source for wings.
Among the issues under study are the tooling cost and processes needed to create a UK line. The UK's planned 150-aircraft procurement is relatively small compared with the nearly 2,400 fighters the USA plans to buy. Final assembly is only about 5% of the total work. Of critical importance to the UK, say industry sources, is an indigenous ability to support and modify the fighter throughout its life.
Eight nations have joined the programme, but some are voicing discontent with the speed and amount of work subcontracted overseas. Third-level player Norway has signalled its dissatisfaction by joining the Eurofighter consortium. With Greece and Singapore expected to become fourth-tier security co-operation participants, competition for the remaining work is set to intensify.
"We're trying to match the parts we have left with each country's capabilities, but it's not a given that, because there is a match, work will be awarded. We're making best value source selections," says Levine. Lockheed Martin is asking for patience and is claiming that once JSF's preliminary design review is completed by April, more subcontracting work will be available to partner nations.
Meanwhile, Israel signed up as a security co-operation participant on 13 February. Israel and the USA have agreed a letter of intent outlining a JSF configuration to meet Israeli requirements and a clause on future procurement by the Israeli air force, beginning in 2012.
Source: Flight International
