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LOCKHEED MARTIN WINS JSF

By Volker K. Thomalla

The decision has been made. And promptly as well, on 26 October, the date previously appointed, despite the devastating attack on the Pentagon of 11 September. Lockheed Martin will be building the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), the aircraft that is to be procured in various versions by the US Air Force, the Marines and the US Navy. If the planned requirement for the US armed forces does not change, Lockheed Martin can expect to build up to 3,000 JSFs by the end of the programme in 25 to 30 years' time. The value of these aircraft is estimated at up to $200 billion, making this the biggest order let out to industry in history.

The decision will make Lockheed Martin the dominant supplier of fighter aircraft for the US forces, as the JSF will be replacing a whole raft of other fighters, namely the F-16, the A-10 and the Harrier. Standardisation of the aircraft fleet  and across Services as well - will save costs in procurement, operation and maintenance. Moreover, it will enable a degree of interoperability hitherto unknown, giving a number of military advantages.

But it also makes the US armed forces dependent on a single supplier. Lockheed Martin is systems leader for the US Air Force's next air superiority fighter, the F-22 Raptor. Other than Lockheed Martin there is now only one other company that builds fighters, the Boeing Company, which supplies the A/F-18E/F to the Navy. There is a long-term requirement for 548 Super Hornets. But whether this number will be sufficient to maintain Boeing in the fighter market as an independent supplier in the long-term remains to be seen. Both with the Raptor and probably also the JSF, Boeing may well end up playing subcontractor to Lockheed Martin, but the technological competence to develop and produce modern fighters is becoming concentrated in fewer and fewer companies world-wide.

The award of a contract to build the Joint Strike Fighter has been closely watched by observers all around the world. The UK Royal Air Force and Royal Navy are looking for a Harrier replacement and have indicated a clear interest in the JSF. Several other countries, among them the Netherlands and Turkey, may be interested in a JSF purchase at a future date. Their national industries have already been offered participation in the development and production of the JSF by the two competitors, Boeing and Lockheed Martin, in the run-up to the decision.

The prospects of a transatlantic collaborative venture appear very good. Lockheed Martin CEO Vance Coffmann underlined at the Paris Airshow his company's willingness to collaborate on a large-scale with European partners, as this would be of benefit to both sides. However, the companies wooed as prospective partners will have to check carefully whether, should they decide in favour of the JSF, they will actually be participating in the programme in a form which ensures the survival and technological competence of their own industries. For even if Lockheed Martin is prepared to allow technological competence into a partnership, there is no guarantee that the main customer for the JSF, the US armed forces, will be prepared to grant its approval.

From page 4 of FLUG REVUE 1/2002