Canada becomes newest member of Lockheed Martin JSF team

Sea Power, Mar 2002 by Burgess, Richard R

Lockheed Martin's Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program has gained another team member with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the United States and Canada committing the Canadian government to participation in the SDD (System Development and Demonstration) phase of the program.

U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics Edward C. Aldridge and his Canadian counterpart, Assistant Deputy Minister for Materiel Alan Williams, signed an agreement that "will span the next 10 years" and "highlight the growing international impact of the JSF program," Department of Defense officials said.

`This agreement serves just about every facet of our two countries' national security imperatives," said Aldridge. "Not just in terms of air domi. nance, but also interoperability, defense transformation, modernization, cost reduction, acquisition excellence, and the health of our industrial bases."

`This project will enhance interoperability with U.S. and allied forces, and will provide opportunities for Canadian industry to participate in this cuttingedge aerospace project," said Williams.

Canada is the first nation to commit to the F-35 JSF program since the United Kingdom. "By joining the [SDD] phase, Canada strengthens the global nature of the program and further validates the concept of the F-35 as a highly interoperable common defense asset for multiple allies," said Dain M. Hancock, president of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company. "This is exceedingly good news for our country, for the program, and for the growing number of participants."

Tom Burbage, JSF executive vice president and general manager at Lockheed Martin, added that increased international participation "also contributes to economies of scale, which will keep the JSF at an affordable cost, both in flyaway and support costs, over the life of the program."

Canada currently operates approximately 80 CF-188 fighters (commonly called CF-1 8s), early versions of the Boeing F/A-18 Hornet, which are being modernized by Boeing.

Other nations known to be considering participating in the JSF program are Australia, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, and Turkey.

In a related development, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company has been awarded a $59.6 million Naval Air Systems Command contract modification to "perform international commonality trade studies and conduct necessary design work" for the JSF, DOD officials announced.