JSF [Archive] - PPRuNe Forums

smartman

3rd Jun 2003, 06:46

A recent article from Dow Jones Reuter Interactive suggests that Congress is putting JSF to the test. "Too many potential 'customers' with aspirations to JSF workshare, leading to too much offshore interest. Is this what the US really wants, or will allow?". Simplisticly put, and I'm too inept to insert the real copy - maybe someone can help?

Is this the beginning of a real challenge in some US quarters over the need for JSF? A slightly larger F22 buy, a procurement of Block 60 F16, and more Super Hornet could be the better way ahead?

Maybe naive, but if things went this way then the global fighter market might readily take on a new turn.

Any views chaps?

Jackonicko

3rd Jun 2003, 08:41

Do post the url of the article, Smarty!

I'm surprised that anyone is exercised about this, however.

1) Giving away workshare has always been a way of ensuring foreign sales, and all of Lockmart's competitors are doing so. In fact, Saab, EF, and others are way ahead of Lockmart in offering both direct participation and in creating imaginative offset packages which may be worth more to the customer's economy than the price of the aircraft being bought.

2) Lockmart (with US Government backing) have quite deliberately not given away workshare on JSF, except to the sole Level One partner. Investing in JSF, or buying it, will only ever give a customer the right to 'bid' for workshare which only the most naive would ever see going outside the USA, or would imagine hasn't already been formally or informally allocated.

3) Lockmart don't feel that they have to compete with Saab, EF GmbH, or Dassault by bothering with workshare or offsets. When selling F-16s or JSFs, they are quite open in saying that any deal is primarily about politics, and that buying either aircraft is all about buying into being a valued ally of the USA. The (usually but by no means always) unspoken subtext is that: "You're either with us or against us/You're either with us or you're with the terrorsits."

4) There is, however, real doubt in many quarters as to whether the US Forces need JSF. The USAF would sacrifice it in a heartbeat to safeguard the F-22 (or increase F-22 numbers) while the USN don't need it, either. Only the USMC and RAF/RN are irrevocably committed to the type.