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In 1996, the UKG began to formally examine
options for a Future Carrier Borne Aircraft (FCBA) to succeed
the Royal Navy’s (RN) FA-2 Sea Harrier from 2012.
In 1998 the Strategic Defence Review White Paper recommended
that the RN and RAF Harrier forces be combined into a new
Joint Force 2000.
The FCBA requirement was subsequently broadened
to include replacement of the RAF’s GR9/GR9A and T10
ground attack Harrier aircraft from around 2015. Reflecting
this change the programme was renamed Future Joint Combat
Aircraft (FJCA) in 2001, encompassing all the UK’s
joint land and sea-borne expeditionary air-power capability
requirements. Latterly and colloquially, this has become
known simply as the JCA.
JCA thus defines the capability being sought,
whilst the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) has been identified
as having the best potential to provide this capability.
Click
here for a history of the Joint Strike Fighter Programme
(Acrobat .pdf Format - 174Kb) |
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Background
From conception the JSF Programme was to have foreign investment,
principally from the UK, as the UK was looking ahead to replace
its GR9/GR9A, T10 Harrier and FA-2 Sea Harrier aircraft. Several
other countries have also invested money into the JSF Program
albeit at a lower level to observe the aircraft development,
without influencing the design configuration.
The UK has been involved in the ASTOVL, JAST & JSF programmes
and its JAST predecessor since 1986, and in January 2001 signed
a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to enter the SDD phase
of the JSF programme as the sole Level 1 partner. As Level
1 partner, the UK’s requirements are formally incorporated
into the JORD placed on LM. To secure this status, the UK has
committed £1.4bn to the US programme, supplemented by £600m
for UK-unique requirements. As a Level 1 partner, the UK was
fully involved in the CDP down-select process.
It was announced on 30 September 2002 that the STOVL variant
(F-35B) had been selected by the Defence Procurement Agency (DPA)
to meet the UK requirement, in preference to the Conventional
Carrier (CV) variant. In doing so, the UK joined the USMC as
confirmed operators of the F-35B STOVL variant. It is believed
that several other countries, not just current operators of Harrier
VSTOL aircraft, are considering the STOVL variant.
Associated UK Programmes
UK forces are undergoing one of the most dramatic periods of
procurement since the Second World War and JCA/JSF will not act
in isolation.
FJCA is closely associated with the CVF
programme and there are also strong linkages with the Maritime
Airborne Surveillance
Capability (MASC) programme and also with the RAF’s Future
Offensive Air System (FOAS).
FOAS is particularly relevant. The requirement
emerged from earlier work, the Future Offensive Aircraft (FOA),
predicated
on the assumption that a manned aircraft would eventually replace
the RAF’s Panavia Tornado strike aircraft and Joint Force
Harrier fleet. The latter requirement was obviously subsumed
into the Joint Combat Aircraft project.
Much research and numerous studies confirmed that a long range
air-delivery strike capability would still be needed when the
Panavia Tornado leaves service, however it was still uncertain
that a new manned aircraft would be the most cost-effective solution.
The decision was therefore made in 1997 to launch a series of
Feasibility Studies to explore unmanned aircraft and long range
cruise missiles as well as looking in more detail at possible
manned solutions (including derivatives of the Panavia Tornado
and Eurofighter Typhoon). In recognition of this broader remit,
the project was renamed the Future Offensive Air System (FOAS).
General characteristics / technical performance
On entry into service with the RN and
RAF, JCA will be required to operate in all weathers, day and
night missions for air defence
of the fleet and of ground forces and for the offensive air support
of ground forces, ranging from close air support to long-range
air interdiction, as well as anti-surface warfare and tactical
reconnaissance. These aircraft shall be operated at RAF Wittering & RAF
Cottesmore as is planned for the Joint Harrier Force.
Key attributes of JCA in comparison to current Joint Force Harriers
include:
· supersonic
· improved survivability
· internal and external weapons carriage
· improved supportability
· increased range relative to Harrier
Costs
It is currently anticipated that the
total procurement cost of JCA will be up to £10bn - depending on the number of
aircraft required and the variant selected. Subsequent costs
will be determined by whatever through life support strategy
the UK decides to adopt. This makes JCA one of the Defence Procurement
Agency’s largest acquisition programmes over the next two
decades.
In Service Date - 2012
The first JSF will be operational in the US in 2010 with the
first UK Squadron due to enter service in 2012. Notable UK Major
Milestones are:
· 2001 SDD MOU Signature
· 2001 Source Selection decision
· 2002 Variant Selection decision
· 2010: First aircraft delivery
· 2012: In Service Date
Quantities
The current UK planning assumption is for up
to 150 F-35B aircraft to satisfy the JCA requirement,
although the UK's initial buy may be slightly fewer.
It is widely believed that F-35 will also be a component of the
FOAS solutions, in which case there is the possibility
of significant further sales (although these may not be of the STOVL configuration).
This has
ramifications for support and training concepts and costs.
UK Commercial Aspects
The SDD contract with Lockheed Martin
was signed 26 October 2001. Its overall value is some $18.98B
(£15Bn).
UK Industry has enjoyed considerable
success in securing involvement in the JSF programme on merit.
Four members of the UK JSF Team
have significant roles on the SDD programme, whilst MBDA’s
weapons will ensure interoperability with other UK aircraft and
offer customers a choice over the incumbent offering. Each company’s
role and capability is described in the “JSF
UK Industry Team” section of this website.
International Collaboration
The JSF SDD programme has made international
involvement a key element of its current vision statement: "…be the
model acquisition program for joint service and international
co-operation." The SDD phase includes partner participation
as follows:
United Kingdom (Level I – Collaborative
Partner)
Italy & Netherlands (Level II – Associate Partner)
Denmark, Norway, Canada, Turkey and Australia (Level III – Informed
Partner)
Singapore and Israel (Level IV- Security Cooperation Participant)
These same partners will be given the opportunity to participate
in Production and Sustainment.
Click
the image below for a larger version
LINKS
JSF UK Industry Team
www.baesystems.com
www.mbda.net
www.martin-baker.com
www.rollsroyce.com
www.smiths.com
JSF Programme
http://www.jsf.mil
http://www.lmaeronautics.com/products/combat_air/x-35/index.html
http://www.mod.uk/dpa/projects/jca.htm
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