Joint Combat Aircraft
Joint Combat Aircraft The Capability Joint Strike fighter was selected to meet the UK's Joint Combat Aircraft requirement for a survivable multi-role expeditionary air capability, able to operate from land and sea. Joint Strike Fighter is a 5th Generation aircraft programme comprising nine partner nations led by the US. The UK's Level 1 partner status, alongside with the United States Navy, Marine Corps and Marine Corps, has enabled significant influence throughout the System Design and Demonstration phase of the programme. The UK has an incremental Main Gate strategy and is planning to officially release an in-service date after the purchase of training aircraft, currently planned for early 2011. |
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Overview of Cost, Time and Performance | ||||||
| Approved | Forecast/Actual | Variation | IY Variation | ||
Cost of Assessment Phase | £150m | £144m | -£6m | - | ||
Cost of Demonstration & Manufacture Phase | £2,482m | £ 2,112 m | -£370m | -£37m | ||
Cost of Support Phase | - | - | - | - | ||
Duration of Assessment Phase | - | - | - | - | ||
In-Service Date | - | - | - | - | ||
Support Contract Go-Live | - | - | - | - | ||
Support Contract End | - | - | - | - | ||
In-year Cost and Time Variation Detail | ||||||
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The 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review confirmed the requirement for the Joint Strike Fighter as part of the future fast jet fleet. The MOD now plan to buy the Carrier Variant of Joint Strike Fighter, which offers advantages in terms of range, payload and through-life costs over the Short Take Off and Vertical Landing variant. It also offers greater interoperability with the UK's allies. Although the MOD has decided to acquire the Carrier Variant it remains supportive of the Short Take Off and Vertical Landing programme and is still committed to the purchase of this variant of aircraft as part of the UK's contribution to a joint Initial Operational Test and Evaluation programme that is being conducted in conjunction with the US military. On the 6 January 2011 US Defense Secretary Gates announced the conclusion of the Technical Baseline Review of the Joint Strike Fighter programme. | It should be noted that whilst the overall cost of the System Development Demonstration phase of the Joint Strike Fighter programme has been increased, the UK's contribution will not change and is fixed by the Memorandum of Understanding the MOD jointly signed with the US in 2001. Increases in the forecast against current approvals reflects additional studies that now need to be conducted to fully understand the wider capabilities of the Carrier Variant and to ensure coherence with the UK's specific operational sovereignty, safety and airworthiness requirements. As a result of the switch to the procurement of the Carrier Variant the Key Performance Measures reported against Short Take Off and Vertical Landing as "at risk" in Major Projects Report 2010 (Range and Mission Performance) are now reported as "forecast to be met." | |||||
Risk Assessment against Defence Lines of Development
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