The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program in Australia got a boost Wednesday with new contracts awarded and new programs put in place to help Australian businesses and workers.
Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds announced the Department of Defence and Lockheed Martin Australia have signed a Direct Commercial Sale contract for the delivery of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) sovereign F-35 Training Support Services (TSS). The three-year A$67.6 million contract will support 60 existing F-35 training and support roles at the F-35 Integrated Training Centre, RAAF Base Williamtown, and establish a satellite F-35 training capability at RAAF Base Tindal with additional long term skilled roles.
The contract will be delivered by Lockheed Martin Australia with support from Williamtown-based air combat training specialist Milskil, representing a combined sovereign capability that includes pilot instructors, maintenance instructors, courseware developers, training device technicians and IT support.
Joe North, CEO of Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand reiterated the company’s commitment to developing long term partnerships with the Department of Defence and Australian industry to build resilient sovereign capabilities. “The TSS contract ensures the world-class sovereign F-35 training support services solution we developed with Milskil is sustained for a further three years, while further solidifying RAAF Base Williamtown as Lockheed Martin’s largest F-35 base presence outside of the US,” he said. “We look forward to expanding the F-35 enterprise in Australia and working with Milskil in establishing the new F-35 training capability at RAAF Base Tindal, with recruiting for up to five new roles scheduled to commence in 2021.”
Grant Iddon, Milskil Chief Executive Officer confirmed the partnership with Lockheed Martin as the F-35 original equipment manufacturer and lead sustainment partner globally had been crucial to establishing a world-class training capability at the F-35 Integrated Training Centre. “Milskil has been providing operational training to the RAAF’s Air Combat Group for nearly 20 years. Since being selected in early 2018 to provide support training services for the RAAF F-35 program we have worked in close partnership with Lockheed Martin Australia to grow and develop critical sovereign capability,” he said. “As an Australian-owned company we are proud to play a key role in the sustainment of this transformative 5th-generation air combat training capability for the Royal Australian Air Force.”
The TSS agreement is the second sovereign contract with Lockheed Martin Australia under the Strategic Deed following the Integrated Maintenance Administration Service agreement signed in August 2019.
Reynolds added that the contract could be valued at up to A$100 million over a term of up to five years, and will see more than 70 ADF personnel locally employed at RAAF Bases Williamtown and Tindal. “There are plans to install four more simulators at RAAF Base Tindal in 2021, which would also be included under the support arrangements,” Reynolds said. “The simulators at RAAF Bases Williamtown and Tindal have the ability to be networked together and share mission data to greatly enhance training.”
The deal also coincides with the RAAF’s withdrawal from pilot training arrangements at Luke Air Force Base in the United States, bringing training arrangements back to Australia. Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said Defence had already trained nine Australian pilots in the existing four simulators at the RAAF Base Williamtown Integrated Training Centre during 2020.
The government also announced that the F-35 program in the country will support more than 50 Australian companies sharing in A$2.7 billion in contracts and could grow in the future as the F-35 capability matures worldwide.
New grant program
As part of the news announced Wednesday, the government also said it has launched a new industry support program to assist Australian companies in becoming established in the sustainment phase of the global F-35 Program.
Reynolds said the Joint Strike Fighter – Industry Support Program (JSF-ISP) will initially be funded with A$4 million and as the F-35 program progresses, options to extend this funding will be explored.
“The JSF-ISP sustainment opportunity will support Australian companies that have been successfully appointed by the United States Department of Defense for component repair capability as part of the F-35 Global Support Solution,” Reynolds said. “The JSF-ISP is another example of the government’s commitment to building a robust sovereign defence industry capability through our A$270 billion investment.”
Price said grants would help companies become established in the F-35 production and supply chain. “Since July 2011, the New Air Combat Capability – Industry Support Program has awarded 46 grants worth more than $21 million to 25 Australian companies.
JSF-ISP Grant application and Sustainment guidelines can be found here.
Former Jetstar workers shift to JSF
Twenty five aviation technicians, including apprentices, who lost their jobs due to the impact of COVID-19 on the commercial aviation industry, have been employed by BAE Systems Australia to work on military aircraft. The former Jetstar employees will be based at Williamtown NSW and their skills will be used to support the established Hawk Lead-In-Fighter (LIF) and the new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program.
The recruitment of these skilled technicians is the result of close collaboration between industry and the Department of Defence and will further develop and grow the critical technical capabilities of the Hunter Valley region to support a sovereign defence industry.
BAE Systems plays a key role in sustaining the F-35 advanced fighter aircraft, not only for Australia, but also for the wider Asia Pacific region. Sustainment of the fifth generation fighter fleet is expected to directly create 360 jobs by 2025.
BAE Systems also sustains the 33 strong Australian fleet of Hawk Mk 127 ‘lead-in fighters’ used to train pilots for combat aircraft such as the Royal Australian Air Force’s F/A-18 and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
BAE Systems Australia Chief Executive Gabby Costigan said, “I am delighted that we can provide highly skilled jobs at a time when so many industries have been impacted by the pandemic. The Defence industry can be an important economic catalyst, particularly with our increasing emphasis on developing Australian expertise and ensuring Australian industry is key to our supply chain. Over the next five years we expect to grow our Williamtown workforce significantly to support Australia’s growing F-35 fleet. The addition of 25 specialists to our workforce will ensure that we can continue to develop, grow and retain critical aerospace capabilities that will benefit both the Hunter region and the nation.”
Quickstep announces 10,000th F-35 component
Australian composite maker Quickstep announced its own F-35 news Wednesday as well, saying it has produced its 10,000th F-35 component for the global aerospace program. Quickstep manufactures more than 50 individual components and assemblies for Northrop Grumman, Marand Precision Engineering, and BAE Systems, and each F-35 Lightning II aircraft currently in production incorporates approximately A$440,000 of content built at its facility at Bankstown Aerodrome in Western Sydney. This provides direct employment for almost 170 highly skilled operations staff, engineers, and support personnel across the business and many more within its domestic supply chain.
Current F-35 contracts achieved full-rate production over the last 12 months and 10,000 parts represents approximately A$250 million of revenue over the last 7 years. Based on forecast aircraft production volumes, and at current rates of supply, Quickstep is just 20 percent of the way through this important build program.
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