300th production F-35 delivered
The F-35 Joint Program Office and Lockheed Martin delivered the 300th production F-35 aircraft, a US Air Force F-35A, to the Hill Air Force Base, Utah, USA. "The F-35 weapons system is a key enabler of our National Defense Strategy and is providing our warfighters the combat proven, advanced capabilities they need to meet mission requirements," said Vice Admiral Mat Winter, program executive officer for the F-35 Joint Program Office. "The 300th production aircraft delivery is a significant milestone that highlights the effective F-35 Enterprise collaboration across the JPO, US services, partners and industry. Moving forward, our F-35 team remains committed to driving costs down, quality up and faster delivery timelines across our development, production and sustainment lines of effort."
The first 300 F-35s include 197 F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variants, 75 F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) variants and 28 F-35C carrier variants (CV) and have been delivered to US and international customers. More than 620 pilots and 5,600 maintainers have been trained and the F-35 fleet has surpassed more than 140,000 cumulative flight hours.
“This milestone is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our joint government and industry team as we collaborate to deliver transformational F-35 capabilities to the men and women in uniform,” said Greg Ulmer, Lockheed Martin vice president and general manager of the F-35 program. “We are focused on reducing costs, increasing efficiencies, and ensuring the highest level of quality as we ramp to full rate production and sustainment of the operational fleet.”
As production volume increases and additional efficiencies are implemented, Lockheed Martin is on track to reduce the cost of an F-35A to $80 million by 2020, which is equal to or less than legacy 4th generation aircraft. With the incorporation of lessons learned, process efficiencies, production automation, facility and tooling upgrades, supply chain initiatives plus the F-35 programme has reduced costs and improved efficiencies, with the price of an F-35A down over 60% from first contract, touch labour reduced by about 75% over last five years and production span time decreased by about 20% since 2015.
The F-35 enterprise met its 2017 delivery target of 66 aircraft, representing more than a 40% increase from 2016. In 2018, the team is targeting 91 aircraft deliveries and is preparing to increase production volume year-over-year to hit a rate of approximately 160 aircraft in 2023.
The F-35 is built by thousands of men and women around the world. With more than 1,500 suppliers in 46 US states and Puerto Rico, plus more than 100 international suppliers, creating or sustaining thousands of international jobs.