Lockheed Martin completes first international F-35 for the UK
Above: The first international F-35 Lightning II rolls out of the factory.
BK-1 will undergo functional fuel system checks before being transported to the flight line for ground and flight tests in the coming months. The jet is scheduled to be delivered in 2012.
Tom Burbage, F-35 Executive Vice President and General Manager of Program Integration, said: "This first F-35 for the first international programme partner is symbolic of the proud partnership we share with the United Kingdom.
"Working together in a spirit of collaboration, we are providing the men and women of the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy with unmatched 5th Generation capabilities, while delivering advanced technology sector jobs to the UK."
Group Captain Harv Smyth, the UK's Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) national deputy, said: "This is a major milestone in the JSF Programme for UK and we look forward to starting to operate the first British F-35s next year. JSF is ideally suited for UK's future Combat Air capability needs, since it provides a world-class 5th Generation air system, which is capable of operating from both the land and our new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carrier."
The UK will play a vital role in the F-35's global production, follow-on development and sustainment over the next 40 years, bringing strong economic benefits to the country.
Paul Livingston, Lockheed Martin Aero UK Director, said: "This programme delivers unrivalled Combat Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (Combat ISTAR) capability to the UK Armed Forces, as well as being a major economic driver by sustaining thousands of jobs in the UK over more than two decades."
Global participation is a centerpiece of the F-35 programme and essential for its success and affordability through economies of scale. The programme is comprised of nine partner nations: the US, UK, Italy, Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Australia, Denmark and Norway.
In October 2010, Israel selected the F-35A as the Israel Air Force's next generation fighter and is scheduled to receive the F-35 through the US Government's Foreign Military Sales process. Additionally, Japan and the Republic of Korea are currently considering the F-35 to recapitalise their fighter fleets.
The F-35 Lightning II is a 5th Generation fighter, combining advanced stealth with fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations and advanced sustainment. Lockheed Martin is developing the F-35 with its principal industrial partners, Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems.
BAE Systems - headquartered in the UK - brings a rich heritage of capabilities to the F-35 programme, including short takeoff and vertical landing experience, advanced lean manufacturing, flight testing and air systems sustainment.
