The JSF UK Industry Team is an informal alliance between BAE SYSTEMS, MBDA, Martin-Baker, Rolls-Royce and Smiths Aerospace.

In 1996, the UK began to formally examine options for a Future Carrier Borne Aircraft (FCBA) to succeed the Royal Navy’s (RN) FA-2 Sea Harrier from 2012. In 1998 the Strategic Defence Review White Paper recommended that the RN and RAF Harrier forces be combined into a new Joint Force 2000.

The FCBA requirement was subsequently broadened to include replacement of the RAF’s GR9/GR9A and T10 ground attack Harrier aircraft from around 2015. Reflecting this change the programme was renamed Future Joint Combat Aircraft (FJCA) in 2001, encompassing all the UK’s joint land and sea-borne expeditionary air-power capability requirements. Latterly and colloquially, this has become known simply as the JCA.

JCA thus defines the capability being sought, whilst the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) has been identified as having the best potential to provide this capability.

The above information came from; http://www.jsf.org.uk/

The link to Preston is that the BAE SYSTEMS workshare is based at Warton with Samlesbury being the manufacturing plant.

December 2006 - First Flight expected soon.

December 12th 2006 UK MoD signs MoU - this covers agreements on purchase and support, without commitment. It was subject to some debate as the UK stance was that their must be 'UK Operational Sovereignty' i.e. the UK must be able to operate the aircraft fully independantly. The US had declared some areas of technology too secret to share.

July 7th 2006 JSF named 'Lightning II' - both the UK and the USAF had a Lightning so this name suits them both. The name having particular affection in the UK.

October 2001 Lockheed Martin selected JSF prime contractor with BAE SYSTEMS and Northrop Grummen.

January 2001 UK sign MOU the System Development and Demonstration Phase

2000 First Flights of demonstrators.

November 1996 Concept Demonstration Phase - Lockheed X35 and Boeing X32 to fly-off.

Further information is available from the JSF website: http://www.jsf.mil/