Five Governments Now Involved In Program

Turkey Monday became the fifth country to sign an agreement to participate in the F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft program's production, sustainment and follow-on development.

The agreement enables the Turkish aerospace and defense industry to compete for up to $10 billion in industrial participation opportunities over the next 30 years.

"Turkish industry has been closely linked with Lockheed Martin and its heritage products for many decades, and the tradition continues with the F-35 Lightning II," said Tom Burbage, Lockheed Martin executive vice president and general manager of F-35 Program Integration. "In signing the memorandum, Turkey gains access to the world's most capable multi-role fighter, and Turkish industry continues to prove its world-class status."

The country will have opportunities to compete in developing and building airframe components, electronics, cockpit displays and information systems software. Lockheed Martin says as the F-35 program evolves, new opportunities will emerge.

Turkey joins The Netherlands, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States in signing the Memorandum of Understanding representing the next step in F-35 program development. The US expects Italy and Denmark to sign in the next few weeks, while Norway recently announced its decision to sign after negotiating certain concessions from the US including allowing two foreign designs to remain in competition with the F-35 for Norway's next military fighter.

The F-35 program is a new idea for US fighter aircraft production. In an effort to "spread the wealth" so to speak, the US will join a multinational effort to build the F-35, touted as an affordable, multi-role, 5th generation, supersonic, stealth fighter. The jet is supposed to replace a wide range of aircraft, including F/A-18s, F-16s, A-10s and Harriers, although the design is not without its critics.

A recent study completed by Retired Royal Australian Air Force air vice-marshal Peter Criss suggests the F-22 would better suit his country's needs. He says his country has committed to the F-35 based on costs he believes will be higher, and capabilities yet to be proven.

Criss told Australian newspaper The Age, "Today, and especially by the expected delivery time for the JSF in 2012 (or perhaps later), there appears to be very little if any difference in price between the two contenders and yet there is no comparison in capability, with the F-22 demonstrating proven performance well beyond anything the JSF is likely to deliver when it eventually comes off paper and into production."

The first F-35, a conventional takeoff and landing variant, made its successful inaugural flight on December 15, and Lockheed says it continues to expand the jet's flight envelope. The Lightning II logged its fifth flight just last week.

Lockheed Martin is developing the F-35 Lightning II with its principal industrial partners, Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems. The team is developing two separate, interchangeable engines: the Pratt & Whitney F135 and the GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team F136.

FMI: www.lockheedmartin.com