Who will be building JSF?

Published: Jun 27, 2006
Source: www.flightglobal.com



The coming months will determine whether F-35s roll off the line anywhere other than in Fort Worth, Texas. Italy is the only partner nation to have formally expressed interest in hosting a final assembly and check out (FACO) line, but UK industry is pressing its government to invest in a similar facility.

“Italy has specified an interest in a FACO, and there is government-to-government agreement that this is acceptable,” says Tom Burbage, Lockheed Martin executive vice-president and general manager F-35 programme integration. “The next step is a decision by Italy.”

Burbage makes clear that Italy will have to pay to set up the FACO, and that it will be a Lockheed Martin facility. “There is a desire to establish a European footprint for JSF, to get some synergies across Europe and to share expenses,” he says. “But they would still be buying their aircraft from Lockheed Martin. We would use local manpower, but it would be a Lockheed Martin facility.”continue..