A further $300 million will be funnelled into Australia’s infrastructure industry over the life of the F-35 Program after the U.S. Government assigned BAE Systems Australia responsibility for its Asia-Pacific Regional Warehouse.
The F-35 Program has been lucrative for Australia to date, with Australian industry already achieving more than $800 million in contracts from design and production work.
The new assignment is expected to create between 10 and 15 jobs in Newcastle.
“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,” said Defence Industry minister Christopher Pyne.
“I congratulate BAE Systems Australia for being assigned this key role in the F-35 Global Support Solution.”
The Regional Warehouse will be based at RAAF Base Williamtown near the F-35 airframe depot maintenance facility for the South Asia-Pacific also assigned to BAE Systems Australia in December 2014.
This announcement follows on the heels of Australia’s success in securing Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul and Upgrade for 64 out of 65 of available F-35 components in the first tranche of component repair assignments.
“It will generate jobs and improve aircraft availability with the warehouse located within our shores,” Pyne added.
Australian industry has further opportunities available in the F-35 Program with the assignments for repair of the second tranche of Air Vehicle Components expected to be announced next year.