Forum: F-35 Lightning II

U.K. Signs For First Three F-35B Fighter Jets
Defense Daily International 03/27/2009

Officials from the United Kingdom signed an agreement to purchase three Lockheed Martin [LMT] F-35B Lightning II operational test aircraft this week, the company said.

"By purchasing three aircraft for testing, we will secure access to the development of the program," British Defense Secretary John Hutton said in Washington on Wednesday. "Working alongside their U.S. colleagues, our pilots will gain an unrivaled understanding of this awesome aircraft and its capabilities."

The contract for the three aircraft is worth approximately $700 million, according to Lockheed Martin officials, and the agreement was signed by officials on Wednesday.

The F-35B is the short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) variant of the aircraft. It will be flown off of the United Kingdom's Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers and will replace the British legacy fleet of Harrier GR9 fighter jets. The country has plans for a fleet of 138 F-35s.

The aircraft is being developed by Lockheed Martin for the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps as well as for eight international partners--Australia, Canada, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Turkey and the United Kingdom. Three variants of the aircraft are under development--the conventional take-off/landing (CTOL) A model; the STOVL B model; and a C-model carrier variant for the U.S. Navy.

The U.K. is spending some $2 billion on the aircraft's development, according to Lockheed Martin. More than 100 British companies are involved in the program, including BAE SYSTEMS, which produces the aircraft's aft fuselage and tails; Rolls-Royce, developer and manufacturer of the shaft-driven lift fan and other propulsion components for the F-35B STOVL variant; and Martin Baker, maker of the jet's ejection seats.

Math makes the F-35B price look outrageous. 3 Acft = $700M

F-16.net Sponsor

I have to point out that it doesn't say that the price of the three birds is $700 million but that its the value of the contract. I'm sure the contract includes more, such as support equipment, personnel, and who knows what else.

Wish more participating countires would buy their own test birds as it would greatly benefit them.

Bodizzle - That makes sense.

Forum: F-35 Lightning II

UK Buys 3 F-35B Test Acft