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Aviation History
2003
2003 - 2781.PDF
*£*~ nology and high-speed titanium machin ing, which are also less immediate con cerns for the JSF primes, he adds. The Danish firm Systematic has already sent engineers to Lockheed Martin to demon strate their expertise. Indeed, although Terma has a contract to support General Dynamics in develop ment, testing and production of the gun pod, expectations for other structural parts are limited, since it is competing against US industry, says Witthoft. He also complains that BAE Systems, despite being Europe's Level 1 partner, has done little to promote European industry involvement. Fynbo says the Danish government is willing to raise concerns about the lack of high-level access onJSK DK's behalf. Some industrialists fear the country's stature may also be diminished by any formal selection of the F-35 to replace the F-16s. "The decision in 2002 to commit funds to F-35 development was to ensure the mili tary could get inside the fighter and ensure that it works in northern European environ ments," says Fynbo. Certainly, if the current drought of work continues, the selection will be less of the foregone conclusion than it currently appears. • Dutch challenge JULIAN MOXON / THE HAGUE The Netherlands is intent on holding Lockheed Martin to its JSF promises The Netherlands government is quite certain about what it expects from Lockheed Martin's JSF pro gramme - and is not afraid to hold the company publicly to account. In early October, foreign trade minister Karien van Gennip reminded the US aero space giant that when the Netherlands joined JSF as a Level 2 partner in June last year, it had effectively been guaranteed work packages worth $800 million. His statement was widely circulated by the Dutch government to ensure that talks with Lockheed Martin this month would be seen as delivering results for local compa nies. The Netherlands JSF programme was largely on track, Van Gennip said, "but we've a long way to go yet, and we're keep ing our finger firmly on the pulse". The statement reminded Lockheed Martin of the commitments it made in November. A high priority in that campaign was to secure a major stake in future European support for the JSF, preferably in the form of a multinational support centre at the Netherlands air force base at Woensdrecht. According to John van den Heuvel, manager of air force business for the Netherlands Defence Manufacturers Asso ciation, such a centre could see each European JSF partner country "bring spe cialities as they did in the [European] F-16 [mid-life upgrade] programme - engines, avionics and so on". The hard-line Dutch position with Lockheed Martin comes in the wake of a difficult domestic political debate over the system development and demonstration (SDD) phase membership during late 2001 and early last year. After three separate attempts to get parliamentary ratification, the $800 million investment was approved. There was a caveat however: Dutch indus try would have to repay the loan with a Norwegian-based Volvo Aero Norge awarded subcontract by P&W to provide low-pressure turbine shafts for F135 engine. Lockheed Martin says business model for logistics support between partners will be completed within 12 months. It unveils planning for "follow- the-sun" design and software engineering. Lockheed Martin acknowledges likely requirement for integration of IRIS-T missile into JSF for Canadian, Italian and Norwegian partners. GE approved by JSF programme office to begin F136 development, but a plan for a joint venture between GE and R-R rejected. Three-Five Systems awarded subcontract by Kaiser Electronics to provide micro display systems for JSF panoramic display Moog-Parker Hannifin partnership is awarded contract by Lockheed Martin to supply primary electro-hydrostatic actuator systems for wing and tail control surfaces. Qinetiq software selected for JSF STOVL variant flight control system. Australia formally signs up as Level 3 programme member, with an investment of $150 million. Nineteen Australia firms receive letters of intent (Lol), enabling them to bid for work packages on programme. NOVEMBER 2002 JSF preliminary design review begins at component system level, targeting completion of full review by March 2003. Number of Lois released by Lockheed Martin to companies in partner nations reaches 120 (Australia -19, Canada -10, Italy - 27, the Netherlands -16, Norway - 21, Turkey - 7 and the UK-20). DECEMBER 2002 US assistant defence secretary for acquisition Pete Aldridge says JSF exports are likely to be 1,000-3,000 up to 2020, and have an impact on the market for the Eurofighter Typhoon. Silicon Graphics receives a further contract from Lockheed Martin to provide visualisation computers and software for JSF flight simulation laboratory at Fort Worth, Texas. Dutch Prognostic Health Management Consortium contracted by Lockheed Martin to supply JSF PHM suite. BAE Systems announces production is under way on aluminium components for JSF horizontal tail test article. JANUARY 2003 Philips Aerospace awarded subcontract from R-R to supply fan cases for F136 engine. GE Aircraft Engines president David Calhoun says JSF role critical to company's long-term outlook. Lockheed Martin Information Systems releases V1 of autonomic logistics systems software. LM-STAR avionics test equipment installed at QM in the UK and Raytheon in the USA to support avionics systems development. Magellan Aerospace selected by R-R to develop liftfan sub-assemblies for JSF STOVL variant. Norwegian government expresses official concern about workshare opportunities in the JSF international programme, and rejoins Eurofighter industrial consortium. www.flightinternational.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL SUPPLEMENT 25 NOVEMBER - 1 DECEMBER 2003 xxl
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