U.S. Chose Lockheed F35 for Next-Generation Fighter

The Lockheed Martin`s F35 was selected as the first Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), which will be used by the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marines.

The U.S. Defense Department announced last Friday that the Lockheed Martin snatched the richest military contract beating a rival bid from Boeing to develop the JSF project, which will roll out 3,000 supersonic jets between 2008 and 2040. The bid was the winner-take-all approach.

James Roche, the secretary of the Air Force said, ``The Lockheed Martin team was a clear winner. F35 of the Lockheed Martin was stronger and has less disadvantages than F32 of Boeing.``

The contract of the JSF project is expected to be worth of 200 billion dollars, which calls for the Air Force to buy 1,763, the Marine Corps 609, the Navy 480 and the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy 150. The United Kingdom, as a partner to the U.S., is participating the JSF project.

Since Denmark, Norway, Canada, Israel, and Singapore have expressed strong interest in buying the planes, the size of business is likely to become bigger. The U.S. press anticipated that 3,000 F35 would be sold to foreign countries during the first half of the 21st century.

The JSF project has been pushed forward to increase the effectiveness of military strategy and maintenance by integrating jet fighters, which were independently used by the U.S. Air Force, the Navy, and the Marine Corps.

It is possible that this fighter project would be the last piloted project, since the U.S. is considering developing pilotless fighters for the long term.

After 2010 when F35 fighters are deployed, F16 and A10 of the Air Force, F14 of the Navy, and Harriers and F/A-18C/D will be gradually replaced.

Three models of F35, equipped with a shaft-driven lift fan propulsion system with supersonic speeds, will be supplied to the Air Force, the Navy, and the Marine Corps.

While the Air Force version will be faster and more maneuverable, the Navy version will be heavier and have longer wings for landing on carriers. The Marine Corps version will be able to take off on shortened runways, hover and land vertically.

eligius@donga.com