Fed: First flight of JSF excites Defence

AAP General News (Australia)
12-16-2006
Fed: First flight of JSF excites Defence

By Denis Peters

CANBERRA, Dec 16 AAP/Reuters - The federal government has welcomed the successful first
flight of the F-35 Lightning 2 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) as a milestone achievement towards
its planned new strike aircraft force.

The 40-minute test flight over Fort Worth, Texas, was observed by Australian defence
officials through visual link in Washington DC.

The first version to fly was a conventional take-off and landing model of the JSF,
although a vertical take-off model of the jet is planned.

The head of Australia's defence overseers, Air Vice-Marshall John Harvey, who watched
the secure location flight, said the test was satisfying after extensive development and
ground checks.

"The first flight itself is a huge achievement," he told ABC Radio.

"It's a great thing to look at, but there's been extensive testing already with all
the individual components and all the integration laboratories.

"But the first flight itself is always a big confidence boost, to see it actually flying."

Lockheed Martin Corp is developing three models of the radar-evading, multi-role fighter
in a major international cooperation effort financed by the United States and eight other
countries, including Australia.

The Pentagon plans to buy more than 2,400 F-35s by 2027 for the Air Force, Navy and
Marine Corps, in a project worth $US276.5 billion ($A353.8 billion). Britain is expected
to buy 138.

Australia intends to buy up to 100 JSFs, to replace its frontline F-111 fighter-bombers,
at a total cost of about $16 billion.

Defence Minister Brendan Nelson said the first flight was a major event in any aircraft
program and provided confidence the program would meet its highly demanding goals.

"The JSF's first flight builds on the significant testing that has already been completed,
including extensive ground testing of the complete aircraft, testing of the total system
in the integration laboratory and ground and flight testing of the individual systems,"

he said.

Dr Nelson congratulated the JSF Program Office and Lockheed Martin on their successful
management of the JSF program.

"In comparison to previous test programs, the JSF continues to exceed in both performance
and schedule," he said.

AAP dep/nf

KEYWORD: US FIGHTER AUST NIGHTLEAD

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