FROM
LANCASHIRE TO TEXAS: 10% PRODUCTION MILESTONE ACHIEVED FOR F-35 LIGHTNING II FIGHTER
JETS
British engineers working on combat jets for the UK’s new aircraft
carriers have reached a key production milestone.
The 318th rear section for an F-35 Lightning II combat jet
has rolled off the BAE Systems production line in Samlesbury, Lancashire
meaning that 10% of the global requirement has now been produced.
The aft fuselage is the back part of the state-of-the-art aircraft’s
main body and with more than 3,000 aircraft currently on order it is estimated
that 25,000 jobs will be sustained across the UK by more than 500 companies in
the supply chain when at peak production.
The rear section has now transferred from BAE Systems’ advanced
manufacturing suite to Lockheed Martin’s Final Assembly and Check Out line in
Fort Worth, Texas to be connected with other major assemblies to become one of
three aircraft variants. The 318th aft fuselage in particular will
form part of a UK ‘B’ model variant of the combat jet.
This variant has the short take-off and vertical landing capability
which makes it ideal for Britain’s new Queen Elizabeth Class (QEC) aircraft
carriers. With HMS Queen Elizabeth set to enter her new home in Portsmouth imminently,
the F-35B jets are on track to make their first flight trials from her deck
next year.
The F-35 programme is the world’s largest single defence programme, and
as a key partner, the UK has been working closely with the US from the outset.
Minister for Defence Procurement Harriett Baldwin, said:
“This is an important milestone and the latest example of how the F-35
programme is benefitting the UK’s defence industry, creating thousands of jobs
and helping to keep Britain safer and more secure.
“Britain is a leading partner in the development of the F-35,
supporting not just the aircraft that will operate from RAF Marham and our two
new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers, but also the thousands of jets
that will serve our allies around the world.”
Andrea Thompson, F-35 Lightning II Director for BAE Systems Military
Air & Information, said:
“Reaching the 10% mark of production on the F-35 programme shows how
far we have come, but also highlights that there is an enormous amount of
work still to do.
“With an order book of more than 3,000 aircraft for the global F-35
fleet, the investments we are making in our advanced manufacturing facilities
are key to ensuring we continue to deliver on our commitments.
“To add to this, we are also working closely with our supply chain to
ensure they are equipped to meet the ramp up in production at the same time as
delivering against our existing commitments.”
Eric Branyan, vice president of F-35 Supply Chain Management for
Lockheed Martin said:
“BAE Systems is a valued partner on the F-35 program, and we
congratulate them on this significant milestone. The United Kingdom is the F-35
program’s only tier one partner and the work of BAE Systems and other
in-country suppliers has a significant positive impact on the UK economy. We
look forward to many more years of partnering to deliver the most advanced and
capable 5th generation fighter jet to our allies around the world.”
BAE Systems is responsible for 15% of the work on each aircraft
including every aft fuselage as well as other mission critical systems for the
F-35 Lightning II programme.
The first operational Lightning II squadrons will be the RAF’s 617
Squadron (The Dambusters) and 809 Naval Air Squadron. Combined with the QEC
aircraft carriers they will transform the UK’s ability to project influence
overseas.
© MOD Crown Copyright 2017
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