Ramona Adams
The U.S. government has selected BAE Systems‘ Australia-based subsidiary to manage the Asia-Pacific regional warehouse of the F-35 Lightning II program.
Australia’s defense department said Saturday it estimates the assignment could bring in approximately $237 million in operations and infrastructure investments for the Australian industry throughout the life of the global fighter program.
Christopher Pyne, Australia’s minister for defense industry, said the regional warehouse will be located at the Australian air force base in Williamtown, New South Wales, near the South Asia-Pacific region’s F-35 airframe depot maintenance facility that was also assigned to BAE Systems Australia.
“The warehouse will provide spares to all operational units in the region — whether the Joint Strike Fighter squadrons are from Australia, or visiting squadrons on deployment from other parts of the world,” Pyne noted.
He added that Australian companies have secured more than $633 million in F-35 design and production contracts to date.
