Lockheed gets funds for UK F-35 landing modification

Flight Global ^ | 10/11/2010 | Craig Hoyle

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Lockheed Martin received a $13 million contract to incorporate a shipborne rolling vertical landing (SRVL) capability with the short take-off and vertical landing F-35B, with the work to be performed on behalf of the UK.

The US Navy announced details of the Joint Strike Fighter award on 6 October, just two weeks before the UK's coalition government will disclose the details of its Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) process. This has assessed the nation's long-term military requirements, including major equipment acquisitions such as the F-35 and two future aircraft carriers.

[noiseman]

Maybe while they’re at it they can also install a will to actually use them in the U.S. versions.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Ping

[Svartalfiar]

...acquisitions..such as two future aircraft carriers..?

I thought Britain/France were cutting back and sharing their carriers. Why would Britain be buying new ones if they’re trimming their fleet?

[Vroomfondel]

ping

[AFreeBird]

They’re trimming their fleet so they can buy the carriers. I suppose the logic is, that it’s easier and cheaper to bring cruisers and the like back on-line than it is a carrier.

[magslinger]

SONOBUOY PING!

Click on pic for past Navair pings.

Post or FReepmail me if you wish to be enlisted in or discharged from the Navair Pinglist.
The only requirement for inclusion in the Navair Pinglist is an interest in Naval Aviation.
This is a medium to low volume pinglist.

[Vanders9]

Britain is not "trimming its fleet" (or at least there is no official intention to do so) but the current carrier force is now getting very elderly (HMS Invincible has been officially retired incidentally) and new carriers are needed to replace them. That's an expensive (and time consuming) program, and the treasury will not stump up more money for it, or at least no more than they have currently allocated. Therefore, the navy can have its new carriers, but they have to pay for it out of funds already allocated, which means that something else will have to be cut back. Possibly the surface fleet, possibly the successor program (next nuclear submarines) possibly the Trident replacement (except that the current government says they will retain an independent nuclear deterrent capability).

Its like all British naval aquisition these days. Too many requirements and not enough cash.

[valkyry1]

Thanks for the F-35 ping!!