Joint strife fighter

Published: May 16, 2006
Source: www.flightglobal.com



A lot will be written about the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) over the coming months: some of it will be true. The most expensive combat aircraft programme in history and the largest-ever US defence procurement, the Lockheed Martin

F-35 JSF has reached a crucial juncture.

The US Department of Defense is seeking funds to begin production before the first aircraft has even flown, and the eight international participants in the development programme are being asked to sign up for the production phase before they are ready to buy the fighter. This placing of the cart before the horse is necessary because advanced fighters take so long – sometimes decades – to develop. Defence planners do not have the luxury of waiting until the aircraft is fully tested before ordering it into production.continue..