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FROM LANCASHIRE TO TEXAS: 10% PRODUCTION MILESTONE ACHIEVED FOR F-35 LIGHTNING II FIGHTER JETS

British engineers working on combat jets for the UK’s new aircraft carriers have reached a key production milestone.

The 318^th rear section for an F-35 Lightning II combat jet has rolled off the BAE Systems production line in Samlesbury, Lancashire meaning that 10% of the global requirement has now been produced.

The aft fuselage is the back part of the state-of-the-art aircraft’s main body and with more than 3,000 aircraft currently on order it is estimated that 25,000 jobs will be sustained across the UK by more than 500 companies in the supply chain when at peak production.

The rear section has now transferred from BAE Systems’ advanced manufacturing suite to Lockheed Martin’s Final Assembly and Check Out line in Fort Worth, Texas to be connected with other major assemblies to become one of three aircraft variants. The 318^th aft fuselage in particular will form part of a UK ‘B’ model variant of the combat jet.

This variant has the short take-off and vertical landing capability which makes it ideal for Britain’s new Queen Elizabeth Class (QEC) aircraft carriers. With HMS Queen Elizabeth set to enter her new home in Portsmouth imminently, the F-35B jets are on track to make their first flight trials from her deck next year.

The F-35 programme is the world’s largest single defence programme, and as a key partner, the UK has been working closely with the US from the outset.

Minister for Defence Procurement Harriett Baldwin, said:

“This is an important milestone and the latest example of how the F-35 programme is benefitting the UK’s defence industry, creating thousands of jobs and helping to keep Britain safer and more secure.

“Britain is a leading partner in the development of the F-35, supporting not just the aircraft that will operate from RAF Marham and our two new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers, but also the thousands of jets that will serve our allies around the world.”

Andrea Thompson, F-35 Lightning II Director for BAE Systems Military Air & Information, said:

“Reaching the 10% mark of production on the F-35 programme shows how far we have come, but also highlights that there is an enormous amount of work still to do.

“With an order book of more than 3,000 aircraft for the global F-35 fleet, the investments we are making in our advanced manufacturing facilities are key to ensuring we continue to deliver on our commitments.

“To add to this, we are also working closely with our supply chain to ensure they are equipped to meet the ramp up in production at the same time as delivering against our existing commitments.”

Eric Branyan, vice president of F-35 Supply Chain Management for Lockheed Martin said:

“BAE Systems is a valued partner on the F-35 program, and we congratulate them on this significant milestone. The United Kingdom is the F-35 program’s only tier one partner and the work of BAE Systems and other in-country suppliers has a significant positive impact on the UK economy. We look forward to many more years of partnering to deliver the most advanced and capable 5th generation fighter jet to our allies around the world.”

BAE Systems is responsible for 15% of the work on each aircraft including every aft fuselage as well as other mission critical systems for the F-35 Lightning II programme.

The first operational Lightning II squadrons will be the RAF’s 617 Squadron (The Dambusters) and 809 Naval Air Squadron. Combined with the QEC aircraft carriers they will transform the UK’s ability to project influence overseas.

© MOD Crown Copyright 2017

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A400M draws attention at Mobility Guardian

A Royal Air Force A400M Atlas is being put through its paces as never before as it takes part in Exercise Mobility Guardian in the United States.

The airlift aircraft has been transporting military vehicles, delivering aid relief and flying aeromedical evacuation sorties in an intensive series of exercise scenarios designed to improve interoperability between the 31 nations taking part.

Wing Commander Ed Horne Officer Commanding LXX Squadron. He said: “We’ve brought the A400 with is to conduct tactical air land missions. What this means is we’re picking up troops and equipment and taking them around the area of responsibility and into places to support the exercise scenario.

“The exercise is a really excellent stepping stone for us as we build more and more tactical capabilities on to the aircraft. Working here with the USAF, and in particular alongside the C-17 crews, is something we just wouldn’t be able to replicate in the UK, either for real on in the synthetic environment at RAF Brize Norton.”

Personnel from a number of other units are also participating at Joint Base Lewis McChord nr Seattle. These include 47 Air Despatch Royal Logistic Corps, No. 2 Squadron RAF Regiment, 1 Tactical Police Squadron and Tactical Medical Wing.

During the exercise the A400 has transported a variety of US Army vehicles including a 19-ton Stryker Commander Vehicle. The aircraft has also flown aeromedical evacuation flights with multi-national aeromed teams.

Wg Cdr Horne: “The A400 was configured right from the start for aeromed missions, we’re clearing more and more aeromedical equipment onto the aircraft. This is the first time we’ll have done any aeromed tasking on an exercise although the aircraft has been used for real with stretcher patients in the UK previously.”

Flight Lieutenant Dave Ellis is an A400 pilot. He explained the benefits of the exercise from his perspective: “One of the big advantages is being able to discover just what the A400 is capable of. It also provides a great opportunity to train.

“For example, prior to the exercise only one of the pilots that we brought with us was night vision qualified but as a result of this exercise we’ve been able to qualify four more something we can’t achieve during UK summertime”.

The distinctive shape of the A400 has stood out on the vast aircraft pans at McChord Airfield. “There’s a great deal of interest in the Atlas, particularly from the C-17 and C-130 crews who have been on to the aircraft to look around explained Wg Cdr Horne. “The aircraft they operate are now quite old and of course ours is very new so they’re very excited about the different functionality the A400 has.”

Editor: Wg Cdr Dylan Eklund

© MOD Crown Copyright 2017

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