Turkey signs on for next phase of JSF

From Defense Aerospace

Turkey Signs On for Next Phase of Joint Strike Fighter

(Source: US Department of Defense; issued Jan. 26, 2007)

WASHINGTON --- Turkey signed on for the next phase of the Joint Strike Fighter in a ceremony here yesterday, pledging $175 million toward the aircraft’s production.

Turkey also promised to buy 100 of the conventional-take-off-and-landing version of the aircraft, being developed by the Navy, Air Force, Marines and allies.

In a Pentagon E-wing room, flanked by about 30 Turkish and U.S. dignitaries and program officers, U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England met with Turkey’s National Defense Minister Mehmet Vecdi Gonul and Undersecretary for Defense Industries Murad Bayar for the signing of the memorandum of understanding that will take Turkey into the production, sustainment and follow-on development phase of the Joint Strike Fighter program.

Gonul also met with Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today at the Pentagon.

Before yesterday’s signing, England said he has spent several years cultivating U.S. relations with Turkey and called the Turkish officials present “dear, close friends.”

“Our country is privileged to have such a strong and dynamic ally in Turkey,” England said. “Together our two nations are standing together in the name of freedom.”

By partnering in this program, the two countries are “building a safe and more secure world for our children and grandchildren,” England said.

Gonul called the Joint Strike Fighter program “the way forward” for his country and its air force. “Today is an important day and big milestone for the future of the Turkish air force,” Gonul said. “The Turkish government is extremely proud to be a part of the Joint Strike Fighter program.”

Bayar said the new F-35 Lightning II will replace Turkey’s aging F-16 fighters and will be the “backbone for the Turkish air force.”

The deal could cost Turkey more than $10 billion over 20 years, the largest defense project in Turkish history. Turkey has the lowest per capita income of any of the Joint Strike Fighter partners, Gonul said.

The agreement provides a framework for future program efforts in production and beyond and will extend cooperation beyond the current development and demonstration agreement between the United States and the other eight Joint Strike Fighter partner nations -- the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Denmark, Norway and Australia. Turkey joined the system development and demonstration phase in 2002.

All but Italy, Norway and Denmark have signed on to the next phase of the production. DoD officials met with officials from those countries this week, and all are on board, just working out the details, said Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Kenneth Krieg. Those countries are expected to sign the memorandum by the end of February.

The Joint Strike Fighter is the largest ever DoD acquisition program. The F-35 Lightning II is a supersonic, multi-role, stealth fighter designed to replace a wide range of existing aircraft. Three versions of the aircraft will be built: a conventional-takeoff-and-landing variant, an aircraft-carrier version and a short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing version. Initial plans call for building 2,400 of the aircraft at a cost of about $200 billion.

The F-35 Lightning II is in the flight test mode and has flown two successful test flights, Dec. 15 and Jan. 8, from Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth, Texas, facility. (ends)

Department of Defense and Turkey Sign Joint Strike Fighter Agreement

(Source: US Department of Defense; issued Jan. 26, 2007)

Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England and the Turkish Minister of National Defense Vecdi Gonul signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to begin future cooperation in the production, sustainment, and follow-on development (PSFD) phase of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program.

The JSF PSFD MOU has now been signed by the United States, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and now Turkey, and will be signed in the near future by the other JSF partner nations -- Italy, Denmark, and Norway. This new MOU will expand cooperation among the nine JSF partner nations beyond the ongoing JSF system development and demonstration (SDD) phase, providing a framework for future JSF program efforts in production and beyond. Turkey joined the JSF SDD MOU in July 2002.

This agreement will have a significant positive impact across the entire spectrum of the U.S.-Turkish defense relationship, including North Atlantic Treaty Organization alliance commitments in the years ahead. JSF will provide air dominance, enhance interoperability, promote defense transformation and modernization, enhance affordability and strengthen the U.S.-Turkish industrial base. It is anticipated that remaining JSF partner nations will sign the JSF PSFD MOU before the end of February.

Joint Strike Fighter, as the largest ever DoD acquisition program, continues to set new standards in development of manufacturing technologies, acquisition and business practices, technology transfer, and export licensing. The initial JSF test aircraft conducted a successful first flight on Dec. 15, 2006. The program provides opportunities for partner industries through the best value model – selecting manufacturers and maintainers based on a combination of quality, price, and timeliness.

Once the JSF PSFD MOU signing process is completed, the partners will cooperatively develop, produce, test, train and operate a Lightning II JSF Air System that will enhance the interoperability, survivability, and affordability of our future forces. Continued Turkish participation reinforces the longstanding and close relationship between the U.S. and Turkish Air Forces, providing a solid foundation for future air operations with other allied and friendly nations in a joint and coalition environment. (ends)

Turkey Joins F-35 Program's Production and Sustainment Phase

(Source: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company; issued Jan. 26, 2007)

WASHINGTON --- Turkey yesterday became the fifth country to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the United States government to participate in the F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft program's Production, Sustainment and Follow-on Development.

The agreement enables the Turkish aerospace and defense industry to compete for up to $10 billion in industrial participation opportunities over the next 30 years.

"Turkish industry has been closely linked with Lockheed Martin and its heritage products for many decades, and the tradition continues with the F-35 Lightning II," said Tom Burbage, Lockheed Martin executive vice president and general manager of F-35 Program Integration. "In signing the memorandum, Turkey gains access to the world's most capable multi-role fighter, and Turkish industry continues to prove its world-class status."

Turkish industry will have opportunities to compete in areas that include airframe components, electronics, cockpit displays and information systems software. As the F-35 program evolves, new opportunities will emerge.

The F-35 program is a multinational effort to build an affordable, multi- role, 5TH Generation, supersonic, stealth fighter. The F-35 is designed to replace a wide range of aircraft, including F/A-18s, F-16s, A-10s and Harriers.

The first F-35, a conventional takeoff and landing variant, made its successful inaugural flight on Dec. 15 and continues to expand its flight envelope, logging its fifth flight on Jan. 24.

The Netherlands, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom recently signed the F-35 PSFD MoU, with the remaining partner-nations -- Italy, Denmark and Norway -- expected to sign in the next few weeks.

Lockheed Martin is developing the F-35 Lightning II with its principal industrial partners, Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems. Two separate, interchangeable F-35 engines are under development: the Pratt & Whitney F135 and the GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team F136.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2006 sales of $39.6 billion.