UK sanctions purchase of third F-35B Joint Strike Fighter

Fort Worth, Texas: Lockheed Martin has announced that the United Kingdom has sanctioned funds for the purchase of its third Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II operational test aircraft. The decision, it said, reinforced the UK's continued commitment to the Joint Strike Fighter programme's upcoming Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E).

Lockheed Martin

''The UK this week received financial approval to go ahead and purchase the third UK STOVL OT&E aircraft that is planned within LRIP 4. Given the extremely tight financial climate in the UK government and the consequent impact across public spending, especially defence, this is a significant achievement,'' said air commodore Graham Farnell, the UK's Joint Combat Aircraft Team head. ''I believe it reflects well upon the JSF program and it is a measure of the confidence that the U.K. has in both the F-35 Lightning II and the program to deliver this capability.''

According to Matt Maxwell, Lockheed Martin director for F-35 Low Rate Initial Production, ''The United Kingdom's participation in F-35 Operational Test and Evaluation, and the associated commitment to purchase F-35s in early production lots, help ensure production stability as we move from the current assembly rate of one aircraft per month to our goal of one per day.''

The UK is the largest contributor among the programme's eight partner nations, having invested $2 billion in the F-35's development.

More than 100 British companies are involved in the programme, 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.

The F-35 is a supersonic, multi-role, 5th generation stealth fighter. Lockheed claims that the three variants derived from a common design, developed together and using the same sustainment infrastructure worldwide will make the Lightning II the most cost-effective fighter programme in history.

Such claims are in doubt with the US Department of Defence instituting a management review of the programme just this month.

Lockheed Martin has reported 2008 sales of $42.7 billion.