The US Department of Defense has assigned F-35 Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul and Upgrade (MRO&U) capability outside the continental United States.
These work assignments support almost 400 repairable items on the aircraft. Examples of component repair include such categories as avionics, life support, landing gear, egress, canopy system, pumps, valves and power systems that will be repaired on the F-35.
As part of the F-35 Global Support Solution, participating nations were provided with requirements outlining repair needs for F-35 component workload. Each country was afforded the opportunity to work with their industrial base to submit responses.
Regional considerations such as forward basing, aircraft phasing, and transportation also contributed to assignment decisions. Work assignments will be reviewed and updated as required by the programme.
The current assignments are time-phased based on fleet need. The first overseas repair capabilities will be stood up beginning in 2021 and will serve all F-35s globally until 2025. Eventually, the demand for repairs will increase to a point where one repair capability will not be enough and the program will stand up additional regional repair capabilities, one in Europe and one in the Pacific.
Thus, two component repair assignments were made: one to support global repairs from 2021 to 2025 and a second to enable support in 2025 and beyond.
2021 to 2025 Global Repair Assignments:
The Department of Defense has assigned repair components to the United Kingdom, Italy, Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and Israel for global repairs, with repair capability activated between 2021 to 2025.
The actual activation timeframes will be determined by a country-endorsed business case to support the required activation, say the firm in a release.
2025 and Beyond: Regional Repair Assignments:
The Department of Defense has assigned components to Australia, Japan and Korea, with repair capability to be activated beginning in 2025. Similar to the global repair assignments, the actual activation timeframes will be demand-based.
Isn’t ther going to be a repair facility in Wales, an old RAF base or something.
St Athan?
No MoD Sealand.
Avionics repair centre.
It has had this role for years before F35 came along.
As part of any UK/US trade agreement, we ought to insist that UK becomes the primary overseas repair (and even assembly)centre for f35. If we’re going to be flooded with American agricultural goods and Healthcare providers, they sure as hell ought to be getting something nice and juicy in return. This ius what we’re good at! This may allows us to offset airbus jobs too – if they start moving production elsewhere.
I will save my stories on American meat, produce and private Healthcare providers for another day. There are a lot of half-truths circulating the UK about US products and services right now and I will attempt to debunk them or feed them as the case may be
I wish you luck!
We will have to accept whatever we get we are not in a position to negotiate very hard with the US on trade.
Well, it’s all still up in the air. I don’t think we are any clearer about the economic future of this country than we were a year ago. I would hate for us to be in such a desperate situation that we had to settle for a poor deal from the US. Trump and his pals drive a hard bargain…and forget sentimentality….there ain’t no goddam special-relationship when it comes to money!
Ah but you forget a very critical thing. The US and President Trump’s wing of the Republican Party is very interested in something giving a good deal to Britain for one reason, the US hates the EU and wants it to fall apart. Giving a good deal that mitigates economic retaliation from Brussels encourages further referenda to leave in other countries.
Not sure I agree with your view “the US hates the EU”. I think what you meant is “the Trump administration hates the EU”
I really don’t think that there is going to be a mad rush for further referenda in Europe. They’ll take one look at the ‘pig’s ear’ that we’ve made of it and quietly forget about it!
Julian1
You truly don’t grasp how much Americans despise international and transnational organizations. The US Military has had a axe to grind with the EU since the 90s. Recent events (trying to supplant NATO, Macron calling for a arms race AGAINST the US) has not improved matters
As for whether other countries will leave the EU? Watch Central/Eastern Europe along with the Mediterranean and see what happens. Greece has been ruined. Italy, Spain, and Portugal are each a House of Cards. In Hungary you have the Commission trying and failing to undermine the democratically elected government of Viktor Orban. In Poland the EU can’t even be bothered to stay out of every day affairs. The list goes on the EU has shot itself repeatedly in the foot and caused the rise of the very nationalist movements it wanted to prevent.
We already have a great trading relationship with the US, I’m pretty sure they’re our largest trading partner by individual country, 13% of our trade.
We definitely shouldn’t and don’t really need to accept a quick deal or beg for this and that.
The trade deal will take years and years to make, lots of negotiating so the deal is right for both countries, protects jobs and standards in both countries, mutually beneficial.
If that is the case then the US Ambassador is sounding off a little early! Isn’t he? Perhaps they don’t quite see it the way you do?