Clearday-TRForce
04-11-2006, 07:34 AM
Lockheed Martin ready for corporate warfare
WASHINGTON/FORT WORTH - TDN Defense Desk
The first of the world's fifth-generation fighters will soon be up and running: the F-35. The builders of the F-35 at Lockheed Martin aeronautics unit in Fort Worth, Texas, have almost completed the first Conventional Take-Off and Landing (CTOL) model, and the first flight is scheduled for fall of this year.
2006 will not only see the first F-35 flying but also a critical move by the partners of the multinational Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) consortium: a key memorandum of understanding (MoU) defining production, sustainment and follow-up development should be executed in December this year. The multilateral MoU signed by all nine partners (the United States, Britain, the Netherlands, Italy, Norway, Denmark, Canada, Australia and Turkey) defines an estimated F-35 quantity/delivery for each partner as well as the partner share in the program.
Beyond that date the F-35 may see air warfare, but the partnership that builds it will probably face corporate warfare in order to ensure that the fighter is as successful as its predecessors.
Lockheed Martin unveils 'the first' of what will become the world’s next generation fighter jet
WASHINGTON/FORT WORTH - TDN Defense Desk
It's a long way from the first sub-sonic jets with guns and bombs in 1945-1955 to interoperable jets with stealth and network-centric capabilities -- about six decades. The first one of the world's fifth generation fighters will soon be up and running: the F-35.
The builders of the F-35 at Lockheed Martin aeronautics unit in Fort Worth, Texas, have almost completed the first Conventional Take-Off and Landing (CTOL) model. The first engine, the F135, was installed on Feb. 13, and the aircraft has successfully passed the fuel system checkout testing -- with zero leakage, which is a rare performance. Structural-coupling and ground vibration testing for the first aircraft are now under way, the first flight is scheduled for fall of this year.
2006 will not only see the first F-35 flying but also a critical move by the partners of the multinational Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) consortium: a key memorandum of understanding (MoU) defining production, sustainment and follow-up development should be executed in December this year. The multilateral MoU signed by all nine partners (the United States, Britain, the Netherlands, Italy, Norway, Denmark, Canada, Australia and Turkey) defines an estimated F-35 quantity/delivery for each partner as well as the partner share in the program.
Beyond that date the F-35 may see air warfare, but the partnership that builds it will probably face corporate warfare in order to ensure that the fighter is as successful as its predecessors. For example, the F-16 has been delivered to 24 countries, and in no few quantities: over 4,300 so far, making it the largest multinational production program in history, worth more than $25 billion and still with a backlog of over 166 aircraft.
But how will Turkey decide on next generation fighters? As stakes rise in competitors' efforts to win the highly strategic Turkish contract, the size of local work share and overall unit, operational and maintenance costs come up as leading parameters.
Lockheed Martin, leader of the multinational F-35 JSF program, and the European Eurofighter consortium that builds the Eurofighter Typhoon have recently proposed rival plans to sell Turkey 120 new generation fighter jets, a contract priced anywhere from between $6 billion and $12 billion.
Murad Bayar, Turkey's chief procurement official as head of the Undersecretariat for the Defense Industry (SSM), has said that the Ankara government is planning to spend up to $10 billion for nearly 100 fighters. He said the local work share would be critical. "Our objective for local work share is 50 percent of our total program," Bayar recently said during a visit to Washington.
In January Lockheed Martin offered $3.5 billion worth of industrial participation (at 2002 prices) for Turkey's local industry as part of the JSF program. Company officials say the offer should be priced at over $4 billion at current prices. The proposed work mostly involves the production of the center fuselage, advanced composites, avionics, cockpit display and a logistics info manager. "The final package will probably come close to $5 billion at present value," said a Lockheed Martin official.
Bayar said that he appreciates Lockheed Martin's offer for Tusas Aerospace Industries Inc., (TAI), which will get the lion's share in the deals by manufacturing the center fuselage and advanced composites. But he also said that Turkey wants further contracts for three other Turkish companies, military electronics companies Aselsan and Havelsan and missile manufacturer Roketsan, all owned by the military. Lockheed Martin officials say there are 85 different projects under negotiation with the Turkish industry.
Meanwhile, the Eurofighter group has also offered "a lucrative sale plan" to the Turkish government, Bayar said. "We're presently examining that proposal," he said. He did not give any further details on the European offer.
In addition to local work, overall cost will also be critical for the final Turkish decision on the cross-Atlantic competition. Lockheed Martin officials in Washington say the F-35 CTOL, the Air Force version Turkey intends to purchase, costs $46 million per aircraft (at 2002 prices), based on an average calculation on presently contracted orders only.
"The unit price may go up slightly in line with inflation, but rival costs will increase, too. In comparison, I can say that our price will stand at about half the price of our rivals," said Tom Waldrop, director of international programs at Lockheed Martin. "As we attain our sales target, our customers' affordability will increase." The JSF group is under a preliminary deal to sell 2,593 aircraft to the United States and Britain (150 aircraft), and hopes to sell about 700 to seven consortium partners and around 1,000 more aircraft to non-partner states, eventually reaching sales of around 4,500 aircraft.
Tom Burbage, vice president of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics and the general manager for the JSF program, said that since the Turkish order will be for the later stages of the production and delivery plan, the unit cost for Turkey would not be more expensive than the present average price. On the contrary,� Burbage said, �It will probably be cheaper (for Turkey). Affordability is a major pillar of our program.
The unit price of a Eurofighter Typhoon is a mystery, with consortium officials refusing to disclose any figure. "Any price figure mentioned is probably wrong," a Eurofighter official said. "The actual cost for Turkey will depend on the modality Turkey chooses, i.e., partner nation, off-the-shelf buyer or a hybrid solution."
The F-35 will replace seven different aircraft in the United States and Britain and six aircraft in other partner countries, including the Turkish F-16s. The F-16 is designed and manufactured by Lockheed Martin.
Turkish military officials say that if the country opts for a non-U.S. fighter, this would bring additional operational and maintenance costs. "I doubt if the Air Forces could support two different fighter concepts and systems," said a Turkish Air Forces official.
The Eurofighter Typhoon is manufactured by Eurofighter GmbH, Germany. Partners in the multinational Eurofighter Typhoon include Alenia Aeronautica, BAE SYSTEMS and the German-French-Spanish partnership EADS.
In July 2002 Turkey decided to take part in the JSF's system development and demonstration phase with seven other U.S. allies, agreeing to pay up to $175 million. Turkey is the biggest contributor among the third-tier partners. But a counteroffer by the Eurofighter group and the European Union's late 2005 decision to launch full membership talks with Ankara have made the Eurofighter Typhoon a strong rival in the new fighter program.
regards,
CDTRF
WASHINGTON/FORT WORTH - TDN Defense Desk
The first of the world's fifth-generation fighters will soon be up and running: the F-35. The builders of the F-35 at Lockheed Martin aeronautics unit in Fort Worth, Texas, have almost completed the first Conventional Take-Off and Landing (CTOL) model, and the first flight is scheduled for fall of this year.
2006 will not only see the first F-35 flying but also a critical move by the partners of the multinational Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) consortium: a key memorandum of understanding (MoU) defining production, sustainment and follow-up development should be executed in December this year. The multilateral MoU signed by all nine partners (the United States, Britain, the Netherlands, Italy, Norway, Denmark, Canada, Australia and Turkey) defines an estimated F-35 quantity/delivery for each partner as well as the partner share in the program.
Beyond that date the F-35 may see air warfare, but the partnership that builds it will probably face corporate warfare in order to ensure that the fighter is as successful as its predecessors.
Lockheed Martin unveils 'the first' of what will become the world’s next generation fighter jet
WASHINGTON/FORT WORTH - TDN Defense Desk
It's a long way from the first sub-sonic jets with guns and bombs in 1945-1955 to interoperable jets with stealth and network-centric capabilities -- about six decades. The first one of the world's fifth generation fighters will soon be up and running: the F-35.
The builders of the F-35 at Lockheed Martin aeronautics unit in Fort Worth, Texas, have almost completed the first Conventional Take-Off and Landing (CTOL) model. The first engine, the F135, was installed on Feb. 13, and the aircraft has successfully passed the fuel system checkout testing -- with zero leakage, which is a rare performance. Structural-coupling and ground vibration testing for the first aircraft are now under way, the first flight is scheduled for fall of this year.
2006 will not only see the first F-35 flying but also a critical move by the partners of the multinational Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) consortium: a key memorandum of understanding (MoU) defining production, sustainment and follow-up development should be executed in December this year. The multilateral MoU signed by all nine partners (the United States, Britain, the Netherlands, Italy, Norway, Denmark, Canada, Australia and Turkey) defines an estimated F-35 quantity/delivery for each partner as well as the partner share in the program.
Beyond that date the F-35 may see air warfare, but the partnership that builds it will probably face corporate warfare in order to ensure that the fighter is as successful as its predecessors. For example, the F-16 has been delivered to 24 countries, and in no few quantities: over 4,300 so far, making it the largest multinational production program in history, worth more than $25 billion and still with a backlog of over 166 aircraft.
But how will Turkey decide on next generation fighters? As stakes rise in competitors' efforts to win the highly strategic Turkish contract, the size of local work share and overall unit, operational and maintenance costs come up as leading parameters.
Lockheed Martin, leader of the multinational F-35 JSF program, and the European Eurofighter consortium that builds the Eurofighter Typhoon have recently proposed rival plans to sell Turkey 120 new generation fighter jets, a contract priced anywhere from between $6 billion and $12 billion.
Murad Bayar, Turkey's chief procurement official as head of the Undersecretariat for the Defense Industry (SSM), has said that the Ankara government is planning to spend up to $10 billion for nearly 100 fighters. He said the local work share would be critical. "Our objective for local work share is 50 percent of our total program," Bayar recently said during a visit to Washington.
In January Lockheed Martin offered $3.5 billion worth of industrial participation (at 2002 prices) for Turkey's local industry as part of the JSF program. Company officials say the offer should be priced at over $4 billion at current prices. The proposed work mostly involves the production of the center fuselage, advanced composites, avionics, cockpit display and a logistics info manager. "The final package will probably come close to $5 billion at present value," said a Lockheed Martin official.
Bayar said that he appreciates Lockheed Martin's offer for Tusas Aerospace Industries Inc., (TAI), which will get the lion's share in the deals by manufacturing the center fuselage and advanced composites. But he also said that Turkey wants further contracts for three other Turkish companies, military electronics companies Aselsan and Havelsan and missile manufacturer Roketsan, all owned by the military. Lockheed Martin officials say there are 85 different projects under negotiation with the Turkish industry.
Meanwhile, the Eurofighter group has also offered "a lucrative sale plan" to the Turkish government, Bayar said. "We're presently examining that proposal," he said. He did not give any further details on the European offer.
In addition to local work, overall cost will also be critical for the final Turkish decision on the cross-Atlantic competition. Lockheed Martin officials in Washington say the F-35 CTOL, the Air Force version Turkey intends to purchase, costs $46 million per aircraft (at 2002 prices), based on an average calculation on presently contracted orders only.
"The unit price may go up slightly in line with inflation, but rival costs will increase, too. In comparison, I can say that our price will stand at about half the price of our rivals," said Tom Waldrop, director of international programs at Lockheed Martin. "As we attain our sales target, our customers' affordability will increase." The JSF group is under a preliminary deal to sell 2,593 aircraft to the United States and Britain (150 aircraft), and hopes to sell about 700 to seven consortium partners and around 1,000 more aircraft to non-partner states, eventually reaching sales of around 4,500 aircraft.
Tom Burbage, vice president of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics and the general manager for the JSF program, said that since the Turkish order will be for the later stages of the production and delivery plan, the unit cost for Turkey would not be more expensive than the present average price. On the contrary,� Burbage said, �It will probably be cheaper (for Turkey). Affordability is a major pillar of our program.
The unit price of a Eurofighter Typhoon is a mystery, with consortium officials refusing to disclose any figure. "Any price figure mentioned is probably wrong," a Eurofighter official said. "The actual cost for Turkey will depend on the modality Turkey chooses, i.e., partner nation, off-the-shelf buyer or a hybrid solution."
The F-35 will replace seven different aircraft in the United States and Britain and six aircraft in other partner countries, including the Turkish F-16s. The F-16 is designed and manufactured by Lockheed Martin.
Turkish military officials say that if the country opts for a non-U.S. fighter, this would bring additional operational and maintenance costs. "I doubt if the Air Forces could support two different fighter concepts and systems," said a Turkish Air Forces official.
The Eurofighter Typhoon is manufactured by Eurofighter GmbH, Germany. Partners in the multinational Eurofighter Typhoon include Alenia Aeronautica, BAE SYSTEMS and the German-French-Spanish partnership EADS.
In July 2002 Turkey decided to take part in the JSF's system development and demonstration phase with seven other U.S. allies, agreeing to pay up to $175 million. Turkey is the biggest contributor among the third-tier partners. But a counteroffer by the Eurofighter group and the European Union's late 2005 decision to launch full membership talks with Ankara have made the Eurofighter Typhoon a strong rival in the new fighter program.
regards,
CDTRF