Share Share  |  
Print Page Email Page Smaller Text Larger Text
IHS Jane's: Defense & Security Intelligence & Analysis
 

Sliding US dollar rates hit JSF programme

By Nathan Hodge

3/20/2008

The US dollar's precipitous slide against other currencies is creating cost pressure for the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) programme.

US Navy Captain Wade Knudson, the Air Vehicle director in the JSF programme office, told reporters on 17 March that dollar exchange rates have "played a substantial role in some of the costs of the airplane".

The JSF was conceived as an international co-operative programme and success hinges in large part on the US-UK partnership. The UK has committed USD2 billion to the programme and BAE Systems is responsible for a significant portion of the airframe, including the aft fuselage and tail, as well as key mission systems such as the fuel system, crew escape and life-support system.

The dollar's fall against customer currencies is likely to mean cost increases over the longer term as the US dollar is worth less when importing or paying for goods built overseas. In the past year the dollar has fallen by 10 per cent against the euro and 8 per cent against UK sterling. 175 of 537 words

Most Viewed Articles

  1. Dassault in bid to undermine Gripen in Switzerland
  2. US to withdraw two brigade combat teams from Europe
  3. Iran unveils guided artillery
  4. JTIC Brief: MNLA re-awakens Tuareg separatism in Mali
  5. Analysis: UK's White Paper leaves central contradiction unsolved
  6. Interview: Ng Eng Hen, Singaporean Minister of Defence
  7. Russia steps up ambitious reforms
  8. Briefing: Punching above its weight
  9. US budget cuts to hit airlift fleet
  10. Uprising tide - Arab Spring Islamists concern the US
F-35 JSF
F-35 JSF

Industry Links
Ensuring Your Maritime Security for the 21st Century, Hyundai Heavy Industries
ATI Defense, providing titanium and specialty steel armor, structural components, kits, sub-assemblies and assemblies.
Jane's is not responsible for the content within or linking from Industry Links pages.

IHS Capabilities

Industry Solutions

Products & Services

Recent Acquisitions

Close window

To change the font size, press Ctrl and (- or +)

Help, that didn't work

To change the font size, Ctrl + (- or +)

If that didn’t work, try the following:

Microsoft Internet Explorer

  1. From the View menu, select Text Size
  2. Select an option from Smallest to Largest

Firefox or Netscape

  1. From the View menu, select Zoom or Text Size
  2. Select Increase or Decrease

Google Chrome

  1. Click the wrench icon next to the address bar.
  2. Next to Zoom, select + or -