February 5, 2002. Copyright 2002. Graphic News. All rights reserved.

Netherlands to join U.S.-led warplane project

LONDON, February 5, Graphic News: The Netherlands is on the verge of approving an $800 million order for Lockheed F-35 fighter aircraft to replace F-16s between 2010 and 2025.

The multi-role F-35 -- formerly known as the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) -- is understood to have beaten off competition from the pan-European Eurofighter Typhoon, the French Rafale and the Swedish Gripen combat aircraft.

The Dutch cabinet is expected to approve the decision to join the U.S.-led JSF program as a Òlevel-twoÓ partner shortly, with ratification in parliament by March. In January the NetherlandsÕ aerospace industry agreed to raise its own contribution to the level-two entrance fee, a key step in reducing the cost to the government.

The final $3 billion order for 100 F-35 aircraft will also provide $450 million of work for Britain, which has spent some $2 billion to become a Òlevel-oneÓ participant. Britain is the only country apart from America to sign up for such a heavy workload. Britain will buy 150 F-35s, the first of which will go into service in 2012.

A number of other nations are likely to come on board shortly, with Italy, Israel and Turkey also considering level-two participation, and Canada, Denmark and Norway expected to join as level-three partners. Each will want its aerospace industry to get some work on the aircraft in return for becoming a formal partner.

The F-35 is being built by a three-company consortium led by U.S. aerospace giant Lockheed Martin. Its partners are Northrop Grumman and BritainÕs BAE. The consortium beat off fierce competition from Boeing to win an $18.9 billion development contract last October.

The three largest sections of work will be divided between the three main partners. Lockheed will make the front section, Northrop Grumman the mid section, and BAE Systems the rear fuselage, including the tail. Each of the fuselage sections will arrive in Texas ÒstuffedÓ -- complete with all wiring and components, and requiring only bolting together.

Different versions of the Òkit planeÓ are intended to replace the U.S. Air ForceÕs fleet of F-16s, the NavyÕs F-14s and F/A-18s and F/A-18s of the Marine Corps. It is also BritainÕs preferred option, replacing ageing Harrier jump-jets, for two new aircraft carriers that will come into service in 2012 and 2014. 

Although Britain is investing billions of dollars in developing and producing the pan-European Eurofighter along with Germany, Italy and Spain, London has angered some European partners by deciding that a 15 percent stake in a more than 3,000-F-35 production run would be more valuable than a roughly 40 percent stake in a Eurofighter run of about 700 aircraft. By the most conservative estimates the F-35 will generate sales of more than $200 billion in the next two decades.

The program is a welcome shot in the arm for the aerospace industry, which is wilting as a result of the slump in civilian orders after the September 11 terrorist attacks.

But, despite the F-35Õs bright future, it is likely to be the last Western manned fighter. Crewless aircraft have come into their own during surveillance missions in Afghanistan, and military experts believe they are likely to be able to take part in air combat within the next two decades -- just as the F-35 is ending its production run.
/ENDS
Source: Jane's Defence Weekly, Associated Press, Reuters