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Lockheed Martin has received a contract from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) of Japan to manufacture components for 5 additional F-2 production aircraft. MHI is the prime contractor for the F-2 multi-role fighter, which is derived from Lockheed’s F-16C but has over 25% more wing area and uses advanced composite materials much more extensively. While the range increases are very useful to Japan given their need to cover large land and maritime areas, the resulting aircraft ended up costing almost as much as an F-15J without delivering the same performance; and so production is expected to end at 86-96 aircraft.
This new award brings the total aircraft under contract to 81.
Lockheed Martin is producing or has produced components for 76 F-2 aircraft from those orders initiated under the 9 previous annual contracts. 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. Lockheed Martin components are shipped to MHI’s Komaki-South facility in Nagoya, Japan, where they are assembled by MHI with other components to form the F-2. Deliveries are expected to begin in March 2007.
Lockheed Martin has delivered more than 350 major airframe, avionics, and avionics support equipment components in this successful partnership with MHI since component deliveries began in late 1998. They are also supporting MHI and the JASDF as they incorporate, for example, the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) onto the F-2, and aiding in other support activities.
Japan’s recent budget set aside funds for 6 more F-2 fighters, which would bring the JASDF order total to 82 aircraft (76+6). With its F-4J and RF-4J Kai(zen) Phantom IIs slated for retirement, and the F-2s discontinued as uneconomical, future Japanese fighter purchases are likely to include more license-manufactured Boeing F-15Js – though Lockheed’s F-22 Raptor 5th-generation stealth fighters are also being considered very seriously.
Additional Readings
* Air Force Technology – F-2 Attack Fighter, Japan
* Military Today – Full Production, Full Deployment For The F-2
* Lockheed Martin (Nov 8/??) – 3-D Woven Composites for the Joint Strike Fighter
* MRO Today (1999) – Lean manufacturing of F-2 wing boxes cuts waste, raises quality