Japan, US close to signing deal on F-35 workshare

11/09/2012
11/7/12 Japan and the United States are close to finalizing the workshare arrangement supporting the production of Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter aircraft for the Japan Air Self-Defence Force. A spokesman from the Japan Ministry of Defence (MoD) told IHS Jane's on 31 October that the two…

The F-35 and Pacific Strategy: Shaping a Core Lynchpin

11/08/2012
2012-11-08 By Robbin Laird Many analysts and politicians have discussed the F-35 as if it was a simple replacement aircraft. And in such conversations, the notion of stealth is seen as a high-end capability needed only sparingly and in specialized circumstances. If this were true, the Marines would not be…

Northrop Grumman and Terma Work on Composite Parts for the F-35

11/08/2012
Nov. 6, 2012 Northrop Grumman Corporation has entered a long-term agreement (LTA) with the advanced composites manufacturer Terma A/S in Denmark to manufacture component parts for the international F-35 Lightning II program. The LTA, which has a potential value of more than $97 million upon completion of all follow-on options,…

Aussie Air Chief Visits Fuesalage Assembly Line

11/08/2012
11/5/12 The Royal Australian Air Force's Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Geoff Brown, met Northrop Grumman Corporation NOC -1.56%  executives during a visit to the company's F-35 Lightning II production facility in Palmdale on Nov. 2. As part of his visit, Brown received an update on the F-35 program…

Israeli team visits Lockheed Martin F-35 production facility

11/08/2012
11/6/12 A team of Israeli air force personnel visited Bethesda-based Lockheed Martin Corp.'s Fort Worth facility in Texas as part of preparations for an initial batch of 20 F-35A Joint Strike Fighters due to receive some Israeli-made systems, Flightglobal reports. Israeli experts are working with the manufacturer to prepare the…

The Challenge of Transforming US Forces in South Korea

11/07/2012
2012-11-07 By Richard Weitz The U.S-ROK military alliance has been the foundation of both countries’ strategic policies for over fifty years. The United States and South Korea signed a Mutual Defense Treaty in October 1953 following the 1950-53 Korean War, in which 33,600 American troops were killed and more than 100,000…

Ship Design and Innovation: Captain Mercer Discusses the USS America

11/06/2012
2012-11-06 In a four-part follow up set of interviews, Second Line of Defense is looking at the role and impact of the USS America. Interviews have been conducted with the prospective commander of the ship, the head of amphibious ship building in the USN, a senior USMC general on its role,…