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August 30. 2012 9:55PM
Nashua's BAE to receive $30m defense contract
A Nashua-based defense contractor will be getting another large contract as part of the F-35 Ligntning II fighter jet project, described as the largest Department of Defense program in history.
BAE Systems is scheduled to receive 15 percent, approximately $30 million, of a $206 million contract awarded to Lockheed Martin Corp., according to a Department of Defense report dated Aug. 28. The contract is for work on F-35s destined for Israel, with an expected delivery date of 2016, according to Mike Rein, director of F-35 communications for Lockheed Martin.
The F-35 is designed to replace the aging fighter jet fleet for the United States and several allies, who have signed on as partners in the massive weapons development program that has been years in the making.
The Air Force, Marines and Navy are scheduled to receive hundreds of the aircraft in the years ahead, with others scheduled for delivery to the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Australia, Norway, Denmark and Canada, according to Rein, at a cost of approximately $65 million each.
BAE delivered the first electronic warfare system for the F-35 to Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, Texas, in April, according to Aerospace and Defense News, which reported that, “The electronic warfare suite, provided by BAE Systems in Nashua, and delivered April 28, will serve as one of the key sensor systems for F-35 pilots, enhancing their situational awareness and self-protection through next generation threat identification, monitoring, analysis and countermeasures.”
According to the Department of Defense, the $206 million F-35 contract announced Tuesday is “in support of conventional takeoff and landing air systems for the government of Israel under the foreign military sales program.”
Work will be performed at Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth (60 percent); Los Angeles (20 percent); Nashua (15 percent); and San Diego (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in May 2016.
In addition to BAE, Lockheed's other partners and subcontractors in the F-35 project include Northrup Grumman, and Pratt & Whitney.
So far, 33 of the aircraft have been delivered to the U.S. military, according to Rein, and one to the United Kingdom. He said each country may have its own specifications for the aircraft, which comes in three variations — one for Air Force that takes off and lands on a runway; one for the Navy that is carrier-based; and one for the Marine Corps that can take off and land vertically like the Harrier jump jet.
Rein said the international cooperation among allies on the project will enhance “interoperability,” with conformity in such areas as communications software, logistics, and flight and repair training.
“In the Gulf War, all the allies showed up, but they couldn't talk to each other in the air,” he added. “With this program they will have the same type of aircraft, the same logistics chain; repair work can be done by technicians from any country.”
The order of approximately 19 of the aircraft by Israel represents the first major commitment from one of the international partners. Defense Industry Daily reported Aug. 14 that, “the big question for Lockheed Martin is whether, and when, these partner countries will begin placing purchase orders.”
In 2011, Lockheed Martin officials visited BAE in Nashua to showcase the F-35 with a high-tech cockpit simulator at BAE's Spit Brook Road facility.
Tom Arseneault, president of BAE Systems' Electronic Systems, told the Nashua Telegraph at the time that “BAE has about 1,000 employees working on the plane. Those jobs, combined with another roughly 3,800 jobs connected to the project through 33 New Hampshire suppliers, contribute about $550 million to the state economy annually. It's the most important program here at BAE. It's a critical part of our economy here in New Hampshire.”
A BAE spokesman in Nashua declined to comment on the latest contract for work on the F-35, pending formal ratification of the subcontract agreement with Lockheed Martin.
Dave Solomon may be reached at dsolomon@unionleader.com.
BAE Systems is scheduled to receive 15 percent, approximately $30 million, of a $206 million contract awarded to Lockheed Martin Corp., according to a Department of Defense report dated Aug. 28. The contract is for work on F-35s destined for Israel, with an expected delivery date of 2016, according to Mike Rein, director of F-35 communications for Lockheed Martin.
The F-35 is designed to replace the aging fighter jet fleet for the United States and several allies, who have signed on as partners in the massive weapons development program that has been years in the making.
The Air Force, Marines and Navy are scheduled to receive hundreds of the aircraft in the years ahead, with others scheduled for delivery to the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Australia, Norway, Denmark and Canada, according to Rein, at a cost of approximately $65 million each.
BAE delivered the first electronic warfare system for the F-35 to Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, Texas, in April, according to Aerospace and Defense News, which reported that, “The electronic warfare suite, provided by BAE Systems in Nashua, and delivered April 28, will serve as one of the key sensor systems for F-35 pilots, enhancing their situational awareness and self-protection through next generation threat identification, monitoring, analysis and countermeasures.”
According to the Department of Defense, the $206 million F-35 contract announced Tuesday is “in support of conventional takeoff and landing air systems for the government of Israel under the foreign military sales program.”
Work will be performed at Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth (60 percent); Los Angeles (20 percent); Nashua (15 percent); and San Diego (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in May 2016.
In addition to BAE, Lockheed's other partners and subcontractors in the F-35 project include Northrup Grumman, and Pratt & Whitney.
So far, 33 of the aircraft have been delivered to the U.S. military, according to Rein, and one to the United Kingdom. He said each country may have its own specifications for the aircraft, which comes in three variations — one for Air Force that takes off and lands on a runway; one for the Navy that is carrier-based; and one for the Marine Corps that can take off and land vertically like the Harrier jump jet.
Rein said the international cooperation among allies on the project will enhance “interoperability,” with conformity in such areas as communications software, logistics, and flight and repair training.
“In the Gulf War, all the allies showed up, but they couldn't talk to each other in the air,” he added. “With this program they will have the same type of aircraft, the same logistics chain; repair work can be done by technicians from any country.”
The order of approximately 19 of the aircraft by Israel represents the first major commitment from one of the international partners. Defense Industry Daily reported Aug. 14 that, “the big question for Lockheed Martin is whether, and when, these partner countries will begin placing purchase orders.”
In 2011, Lockheed Martin officials visited BAE in Nashua to showcase the F-35 with a high-tech cockpit simulator at BAE's Spit Brook Road facility.
Tom Arseneault, president of BAE Systems' Electronic Systems, told the Nashua Telegraph at the time that “BAE has about 1,000 employees working on the plane. Those jobs, combined with another roughly 3,800 jobs connected to the project through 33 New Hampshire suppliers, contribute about $550 million to the state economy annually. It's the most important program here at BAE. It's a critical part of our economy here in New Hampshire.”
A BAE spokesman in Nashua declined to comment on the latest contract for work on the F-35, pending formal ratification of the subcontract agreement with Lockheed Martin.
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Dave Solomon may be reached at dsolomon@unionleader.com.
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