JSF FACILITY OPENED AT BAE SYSTEMS, SAMLESBURY

A new, £11 million pound, state-of-the-art production facility, that will be used to produce major assemblies for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter has been officially opened at BAE SYSTEMS Samlesbury.

The facility, where aft fuselages and tails will be assembled for the JSF, the world's largest defence contract, was officially opened by Major General Hudson, Program Executive Officer and Program Director, JSF, the man responsible for running the program on behalf the US Department of Defense.

The new facility is equipped with the latest in manufacturing technology, including a flexible flooring system, which was pioneered on the Typhoon assembly line at Samlesbury.

Construction of the facility was completed on schedule and JSF major assemblies will start to be produced in the near future. The first fully assembled aft fuselage is on schedule to be shipped in late 2004.

Tom Fillingham, Vice President and Deputy Program Manager, JSF, at BAE SYSTEMS said: "The opening of this facility marks a great step forward for the JSF programme, BAE SYSTEMS and in particular Samlesbury and its employees. The investment the company has made in this facility is an indication of the importance that BAE SYSTEMS places on the F-35 JSF programme.

"The advanced manufacturing technologies and techniques in evidence within this facility are part of the reason why BAE SYSTEMS Samlesbury, is key to the JSF programme.�

Major General Hudson added: "It was a great honour to open this new world-leading facility. The technology and people based at BAE SYSTEMS are an integral part of the team delivering the world's most advanced multi-role stealth combat aircraft, the F-35 JSF.�