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Aviation History
2003
2003 - 2780.PDF
$*" The Danish blueprint for industrial workshare on the F-35 has not exactly gone according to plan. Barge Witthoft, chairman of the steering board for the Danish industrial body, JSF DK, says: "If we compare our selves to our plan, and to other countries, we have to admit we are behind." JSF DK is committed to funding around DKr790 million ($125 million) of develop ment for the fighter over 10 years. The country's defence ministry says it would be "disappointed" if it were not to receive a similar value of contracts for work on the programme. But since parliamentary approval to join the programme was granted on 29 April last year, there have been fewer than 30 requests for proposals (RFP) to Danish firms and less than DKr6.3 million in contracts, according to Aage Madsen, president of defence consultancy Atlantic Services. Copenhagen has asked industry to invest in meeting the costs of F-35 system development and demonstration (SDD) phase participation rather funding it directly from its own coffers. So Denmark's three largest defence contractors are contributing DKrl26 mil- Danish derailment JUSTIN WASTNAGE/COPENHAGEN Denmark's strategy for JSF workshare has, so far, failed to stay on track lion to JSF DK, with systems specialist Terma Industries paying the lion's share. "We had the perception that we were in for a quick take-off in terms of contracts, but it seems as if we have been too optimistic," says Witthoft. The sense of frustration is exacerbated when comparisons are made with other countries. The Netherlands, for example, has received more than 100 requests for proposals and contracts worth over €127 million ($150 million), says Madsen. "It is obvious that Level 2 countries take priority, but to avoid being left with the scraps, we are working with Lockheed Martin to find contracts that fit our pro file. We are confident of success down stream, even if it comes later than expected," adds Witthaft. Denmark has a history of co-operation with Lockheed Martin on fighter develop ment going back to 1997. The country had already begun work on planning a replace ment for its 62 F-16A/Bs and had also jointly developed the European F-16 mid life update programme with Belgium, the Netherlands and Norway. "Initially all four decided to co-operate with Lockheed Martin in the development Danish industry has been asked to invest in meeting costs of F-35 SDD phase participation of the Future Joint Combat Aircraft," says Maj Gen Lars Fynbo, deputy chief of staff for materiel, infrastructure and logistics at Defence Command Denmark. But with the Belgian government short of funds and the Netherlands outspending Denmark and Norway, the bloc has been reduced to the two Nordic countries. Progress evaluation JSF DK has to make a progress evaluation at the end of next year, on which contin ued participation in the SDD phase depends. Part of the group's near-term strategy has been to set up a formal approach to pursuing work packages in conjunction with Canada and Norway. Fynbo says that the government is "optimistic" that next year will be a turn ing point, since Danish areas of specialisa tion lie in the autonomic logistics (autolog) area, for which few RFPs have been issued. "Eight out of 14 companies in the JSF DK are looking at autolog, and the RFPs for training, simulation and course development are not out there yet," says Madsen. Denmark also leads the world in printed circuitboard manufacture, acoustic tech- XX 25 NOVEMBER - 1 DECEMBER 2003 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL SUPPLEMENT www.fliqhtinternational.com
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