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Technology update
F-2 contract award
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Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has awarded Lockheed Martin with a fourth contract for the manufacture of parts for eight additional F-2 production aircraft.
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Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), the prime contractor for Japan's F-2 support fighter, has employed Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. to perform various manufacturing tasks for eight additional F-2 aircraft. Lockheed Martin is already producing components for the first 28 aircraft.
Under the terms of the new agreement, the company will continue to provide all the aft fuselages, wing leading-edge flaps, and stores-management systems - 80% of all left-hand wing boxes; and other avionics and avionics support equipment. These components will be shipped to MHI's Komaki South facility in Nagoya, Japan, where they will be assembled with other F-2 parts and assemblies.
The 4000 th F-16 fighter was recently delivered to the Egyptian Air Force.
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The F-2 aircraft, which is based on the F-16 design, was selected by Japan in 1987 as the country's new support fighter. The Japan Defense Agency's Technical Research and Development Institute is conducting the flight test program using four prototype aircraft. Testing is expected to be concluded
this summer. Japan plans to purchase 130 F-2s.
In addition to the contract, Lockheed Martin also celebrated the delivery to the Egyptian Air Force
of the company's 4000th F-16 fighter. "Production of 4000 fighters is a
major milestone that has been
rare since World War II," said Lockheed Martin Aeronautics President Dain
M. Hancock.
The 4000th aircraft, an F-16C, was delivered as part of Egypt's fifth order for the fighter. Other countries that had ordered F-16s in the past include Israel, Greece, the United Arab Emirates, and the U.S. The company has firm orders for F-16s through 2006, and options will extend production through 2009.
Frank Bokulich
Aerospace Engineering July 2000
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