Lockheed aims to sell 500 F-35's in Asia Pacific

Lockheed Martin aims to sell about 500 F-35 [Lightning II] aircraft to governments in the Asia-Pacific region during the life of the stealth fighter's production program, an executive said Tuesday [19 Feb 2008]. "I think 500 is about right, plus or minus 50," Vice President for F-35 Business Development George Standridge told Dow Jones Newswires at Singapore Airshow 2008.

He said Lockheed Martin is in talks with four likely buyers, including Japan, South Korea, Australia, and Singapore. The sales target suggests revenue from the Asia-Pacific region exceeding $20 billion, as initial orders from the U.S. government were priced at $45 million per plane in 2002. The potential sales come in addition to over 2,000 aircraft due for delivery by 2025 to the U.S. military and eight other countries participating in the F-35 program. The US Air Force is expected to take delivery of the first F-25 in 2010, with the UK, another program partner, receiving the first international order in 2011. Countries outside of the F-35 program may receive aircraft as early as 2014. Lockheed will focus on countries that are positioned to upgrade to the "fifth generation" aircraft from models such as the F-16, F-18, or the Harrier.

- The revenue from the 500 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) units should be much higher than $20 billion. The stated price tag of $45 million per plane is clearly an outdated figure - Wikipedia has a price figure of $50-60 million for the F-35, so the tally would probably be more like $30 billion.

Not to forget that inflation often hits defence spending too, through a combination of various factors, so the final figure remains to be seen.

Post a Comment:

Comments are closed for this entry.

« China CPI inflation... | Main | Crude oil hits $101.... »

Most popular blog postings on lowem.log :

1. Singapore MRT rail network length to double by 2020
2. 2010 Nissan Leaf electric car specifications : 107hp, 24KWh lithium-ion batteries, 100-mile range
3. Live spot gold price quotes chart on COMEX
4. 2010 Toyota Prius specifications released : 50 mpg, 1.8L, 134hp, Ni-MH, solar roof option
5. AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 2011 direct download link
6. Real-time live gold and silver price quotes chart on COMEX
7. Singapore electric vehicles : Government agencies EMA and LTA to study EV introduction
8. Book review : Shut Down by William Flynn

Featured articles on lowem.log :

1. Book review : Shut Down by William Flynn
2. Singapore electric cars testing starts with 9 electric vehicles
3. Honda, GS Yuasa JV to make lithium-ion batteries for 2010/2011 Honda Civic Hybrid
4. 2010 Honda Civic Hybrid preliminary specifications released
5. 2010 Honda CR-Z hybrid, 2010 Honda Fit/Jazz hybrid models confirmed
6. 2010 Toyota Prius specifications released : 50 mpg, 1.8L, 134hp, Ni-MH, solar roof option
7. NYMEX crude oil recovers from $32.40 low after 2.2 mbpd OPEC production cut announced
8. Singapore : Nuclear power not ruled out