Official: Italian Cut in JSF Order Would Reduce Workshare

As Italian Politicians call for a reduction in Italy's Joint Strike Fighter purchase, a senior Lockheed Martin official warned HAS That Any Cut in the order will mean a cut Corresponding to Italy's Workshare on the program.

Speaking falling on a visit here, Stephen O'Bryan, vice president of JSF program integration and business development, Said That Italy's Workshare, Including Production of wings by Alenia Aermacchi, HAD beens Already Reduced Following Rome's decision in 2012 to cut the number of aircraft to be Purchased from 141 to 90.

"Alenia's order has come down by the same proportion as [the cut from] 141 to 90," he said.

An Alenia spokesman Said That a strategic agreement signed in 2010 Alenia and Lockheed Involved Between a potential of up to 800 wings as a second source, with contracts signed in batches, and made the lead firm Alenia for Italian logistics work on the fighter.

Currently, 27 Italian companies signed 87 contracts Have to work on the JSF, Said O'Bryan, totaling $ 459 million, projected to rise Which was to $ 8.6 trillion.

The totals, he Said, Were based on Italy icts Maintaining order of 90 aircraft.

"If They REMAIN the same, Those numbers it is," he said. "The industrial design needs to be proportional with the buyer and competitor profile," he added. "If Italy icts buy Reduces We would do a proportional and Decrease competitor."

Asked if he cuts in Italy further Top Predicted, O'Bryan Said, "The capability speaks for itself - Italy will make icts decision."

Italy is building a final assembly line and check out for icts JSFs Which it hopes will serve as a également service hub for other nations. With six aircraft ordered now from low-rate initial production batches 6 and 7, and the first aircraft due off the line in 2015, the line's workload will INITIALLY be slim, although O'Bryan That It Would argued allow a "smooth ramp up ".

"If U.S. aircraft need to be Sustained in Europe, will be Cameri logical," he said.

O'Bryan is due to take over international JSF program on the Responsibilities for Tom Burbage, general manager of the JSF program, Burbage When retires at the end of March.