Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC
The US Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) programme office expects to reach agreement with the UK this month on participation in the programme's engineering manufacturing and development (EMD) phase, while talks begin with Turkey next month on an expanded partnership.
JSF international programme director John Schreiber anticipates concluding a deal with the UK at the end of a fifth round of talks this month. "We'll both start national staffing with the intent of signing a MoU [memorandum of understanding] by September."
Only the UK is being offered full 'level one' full EMD participation in return for funding 10% of the projected $18 billion development cost.
September will mark the start of evaluation of the two JSF contenders, by which stage the UK is expected to have concluded its Future Carrier Borne Aircraft study.
"The UK needs to sign the MoU before we release the CFI [call for improvements] to our contenders in September. In order for the UK to participate in the source selection process they need to sign the MoU with us by then," says Schreiber.
Turkey has indicated to the programme office that it wants to be elevated to 'level two' partnership and take a 5% EMD stake. It is a fourth-tier foreign military sales (FMS) player in the current concept demonstration phase (CDP), but has invested over $6 million in 'fee for service' data and a US brokered industry day.
US defence undersecretary Jacques Gansler recently extended invitations to Turkey, as well as Australia and Belgium, to join the next phase. "Turkey has not officially sent back a letter, but we're in the process of setting up a negotiating schedule for them. They want to participate at level two," reveals Schreiber. Australia and Belgium have declined to join the EMD phase.
Earlier invitations were sent to all CDP tier-two 'associate' and tier-three 'informed' partners. The Netherlands is to hold a second round of talks this month on becoming a level two partner, while discussions will start soon with Italy on taking a 5% EMD share.
Canada, Denmark and Norway want to participate as level-three partners with a 1-2% EMD share.
Invitations will be sent shortly to around another 12 potential partner nations. The next phase will also be open to FMS participants in return for a minimum $75 million outlay.
Source: Flight International
