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BAE Systems Australia to service F-35s
WCASTLE, Australia, (UPI) -- Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems Australia signed an agreement for readiness and sustainment support for combat aircraft purchased by the Australian government.
Support work will be conducted for Lockheed Martin's F-35 Lightening II Joint Strike Fighter, which will be introduced into service in Australia in 2018.
Operations will be centered at BAE Systems Aerospace headquarters in Williamtown, New South Wales, where 400 workers provide maintenance for the Australian air force's F/A-18 Hornets and Hawk fighter fleets.
"Leveraging our capability at Williamtown will reduce the transition risk and cost of introducing the F-35 aircraft into service in Australia …," said John Monaghan, BAE Systems Australia's aerospace director. "It will also assist in retaining this important defense industry capability for the Hunter (Valley) region and Australia more generally."
The Joint Strike Fighter, still in production, is touted to be the world's most advanced combat aircraft, with systems to meet anticipated military threats from 2020 on. Lockheed is the prime contractor for the aircraft, while Northrop Grumman and BAE are principal partners.
Nine countries are participating in the System Development and Demonstration phase of producing the aircraft, which will be available in several configurations.
WCASTLE, Australia, (UPI) -- Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems Australia signed an agreement for readiness and sustainment support for combat aircraft purchased by the Australian government.
Support work will be conducted for Lockheed Martin's F-35 Lightening II Joint Strike Fighter, which will be introduced into service in Australia in 2018.
Operations will be centered at BAE Systems Aerospace headquarters in Williamtown, New South Wales, where 400 workers provide maintenance for the Australian air force's F/A-18 Hornets and Hawk fighter fleets.
"Leveraging our capability at Williamtown will reduce the transition risk and cost of introducing the F-35 aircraft into service in Australia …," said John Monaghan, BAE Systems Australia's aerospace director. "It will also assist in retaining this important defense industry capability for the Hunter (Valley) region and Australia more generally."
The Joint Strike Fighter, still in production, is touted to be the world's most advanced combat aircraft, with systems to meet anticipated military threats from 2020 on. Lockheed is the prime contractor for the aircraft, while Northrop Grumman and BAE are principal partners.
Nine countries are participating in the System Development and Demonstration phase of producing the aircraft, which will be available in several configurations.
