BAE Systems Australia will spearhead a joint industry-Government bid to establish Australia as the regional service hub for the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft, Defence Minister Robert Hill and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources Warren Entsch announced today.
BAE Systems Australia will lead the industry element of a task force developing and promoting Australia's capability to support not only Australian JSF aircraft but also JSF aircraft operated by regional countries and those deployed in the region.
The Government's decision to invest up to US$150 million in the decade-long systems development and demonstration phase of the JSF program is already paying dividends for Australian industry, with five companies selected so far to work on the program. Their success has sparked further interest from industry in the program and we expect more contracts to flow during the life of the project.
BAE Systems Australia's commitment to take a leading role in the Regional Support Capability Task Force fits well with the long-term Australian Industry Engagement Strategy developed by Government and industry to pursue opportunities across the spectrum of development, production and through life support for the JSF over the next three decades.
The Task Force will develop a globally competitive and sound commercial business case to present to Lockheed Martin for Australia to be the regional service hub for the JSF.
This initiative reinforces the strong partnership between Government and Australian industry to work together as Team Australia to position us to win and to provide the necessary infrastructure for the long term support of JSF aircraft.
