LM have recently said that they aim to offer an export price middle 2009, contingent on all export partners ordering the number of F-35’s expected. I think they may need to get a waiver from the politicians to supply at a lower price than the USAF will be paying up to 2013. Not quite sure how LM work out an export price for an aircraft that is not yet defined (export LO), debugged and tested.
Not much use to Norway which intends coming to a decision between F-35 and Gripen at the beginning of 2009 IIRC.
LM hav many problems with the F-35.
First the F-135 have a fan/guide vanes blade resonance problem and a broken drive shaft/fan (during the final acceptance run of the BF1 engine) in the low pressure compressor stage caused by resonance. When this a pressure ratio induced or intake choke induced problem is than make this headaches (indication therefor Fan blades broken in the fall 2007, replaced by reinforced. Perhaps the BF-1 engie failure indicate this problem is still not fixed yet). Than this noise problem and this is not only a problem for Australia and Norway (the must relocated an Airbase when they take the F-35).
Than is this a problem for the Netherlands and for Greatbritain too!
Than have the F-35 below of 2% test program completed!
In fact no series F-35A avaible yet as far the first real F-35AF1 had on 21.Aug 2008 rollout! The F-35 AA-1 is an interim solution with a to heavy airframe.
Maybe have the UK nil if the reduce the T3.
Maybe read this first: JSF Delays Pile Up
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=83430
F-35 F135 engine problem
F-35 cooling problem
F-35 noise problem
delayed test program
etc.
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