Joint Strike Fighter program develops

GOVERNMENT has approved Australia’s entry into negotiations for the next phase of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program.

A delegation headed by Defence recently left for America to begin negotiations with the US and the seven other nations for the production, sustainment and follow-on development phase of the $US 200+ billion program.

These negotiations will seek to establish appropriate cost sharing, industry participation and support and management arrangements for the project.

The negotiations are expected to lead to a cooperative agreement in late 2006, with the first order for aircraft purchases to be placed in 2008 for deliveries in 2012.

Hawker de Havilland (HdH) signed a $70 million long-term agreement with Northrop Grumman for the manufacture and assembly of complex JSF structures.

HdH’s agreement with Northrop Grumman will provide for work under the low rate initial production phase of the program, which will continue until about 2014.

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