The Switch Heard 'Round The World
Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) prime contractor Lockheed Martin
Thursday switched "power on" to test the electrical and hydraulic
systems of the first JSF aircraft at the company's plant in Fort
Worth, TX.
Australian Defense Minister Robert Hill welcomed the news --
calling the JSF the most electronically sophisticated aircraft ever
made.
Hill said the ability to power the aircraft shows that the
majority of the structure is assembled, the utility systems have
been installed and it is ready to test the aircraft's circuits,
electronic components and wiring.
"The first aircraft is in final assembly at Lockheed Martin's
facility at Fort Worth, Texas, with the four major subassembly
sections already joined," Senator Hill said.
"After years of development and some 7000 hours of testing,
Pratt & Whitney has commenced assembly of the first flight test
engine, designated F135, which is scheduled to be delivered to Fort
Worth by December 2005.
"The first test aircraft, a conventional takeoff and landing
(CTOL) F-35A, is scheduled to make its inaugural flight in the
third quarter of 2006."
The alternate F136 engine, being developed by the General
Electric and Rolls Royce Fighter Engine Team, has successfully
completed early development activities and has recently been
awarded a contract for System Development and Demonstration.
Senator Hill said other major components of the JSF are also on
track. The Electronic Warfare, Distributed Aperture,
Countermeasures and Radar Systems have all begun flight test and
are progressing well.
Lockheed Martin reports "huge" efficiency gains in their
manufacturing results on the first aircraft compared to
current-generation aircraft programs, citing an 86-percent
reduction in assembly non-conformances, a 44-percent reduction in
manufacturing defects and a 22% improvement in manufacturing time
for composite components.
"Importantly, Australian companies are playing a significant
part in achieving these results," Hill said. "Almost 1000 parts on
this 'power on' aircraft were designed in Australia by
Melbourne-based GKN Aerospace Engineering which equates to
approximately 20-percent of all structural parts on the aircraft.
The value of Australian industry's early JSF component work is a
critical step toward Australian firms winning larger contracts in
the next phase of production."