Following an intense
four-year competition, the U.S. Department of Defense on 26 October
2001, named the Lockheed Martin lead Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) team
as the winner of the contract to develop the F-35 JSF. The F-35 team
immediately entered the program’s 10-year System Development and
Demonstration (SDD) phase.
The SDD period involves the development and testing of the
entire aircraft system, including its manufacture. During SDD, the
team will build a total of 22 test aircraft. Fourteen will undergo
flight-testing, seven will be used for non-airborne test activities,
and one will be used to evaluate the F-35’s radar
signature.
Nine nations are partnering in the F-35’s SDD phase: The
United States, United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey,
Canada, Denmark, Norway and Australia. Partnership in SDD entitles
those countries to bid for work on a best value basis, and
participate in the aircraft’s development. Additionally, Israel and
Singapore have agreed to join the program as a Security Cooperation
Participants.
Lockheed Martin is the F-35 prime contractor, while Northrop
Grumman and BAE Systems are principal partners in the
project.
Final assembly of the F-35 will take place at Lockheed Martin
Aeronautics Company in Fort Worth, Texas. Northrop Grumman
Corporation in Palmdale and El Segundo, California will manufacture
the center-fuselage, and the aft fuselage and tails will be
manufactured by BAE Systems in Samlesbury, England. Lockheed Martin
in Fort Worth will manufacture the forward fuselage and
wings.
Flight-testing will be conducted at Fort Worth, Edwards Air
Force Base, and Naval Air Station Patuxent River. Additionally, the
STOVL and CV variants will undergo sea trials aboard American,
British and Italian aircraft
carriers
