Representatives from the Joint Strike Fighter Division, the Royal Australian Airforce (RAAF), US based F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) and JSF prime contractor Lockheed Martin have met in Canberra for the a JSF Site Activation Task Force (SATAF) planning session.
This was the second of four SATAFs to be conducted in Australia.
SATAFs are conducted once a year for the four years leading up to the start of F-35A operations at each country’s main operating base.
With just 39 months until the JSF’s expected delivery, the week long planning session focussed on ensuring that RAAF Base Williamtown is ready to accept and operate the first F-35A Lightning II JSF from the end of 2018.
Among attendees was JSF Division F-35 Maintenance Lead, Squadron Leader Scott Schultz who said that there are many aspects to consider when planning a sustainment solution for the F-35 capability.
“The Agenda was based around fundamental inputs to capability development and includes topics such as facilities, workforce, training, security, warehousing and contract planning,” Squadron Leader Schultz said.
“One of the most critical aspects in integrating the new capability into the ADF sustainment environment is the incorporation of the new Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS) into the existing Defence Information Environment and this was also a key item on the agenda.”.
“Australia has the most rapid acquisition and stand-up program of any Partner country outside the United States,” said Squadron Leader Schultz.
“We are going to bring a lot of aircraft on line in a comparatively short amount of time which is an exciting opportunity and a big challenge,” he said.
The JPO and Lockheed Martin representatives, LTCOL Shaun McDaniel and Mr Vernon Perry were also in Canberra for the SATAF and have experience conducting previous SATAFs for other Partner nations including the United States Marine Corp which achieved Initial Operational Capability in July this year.
“This year’s SATAF provided a huge jump in knowledge and lessons learnt from last year – so much happens in a year as F-35 operating sites stand up in the United States and around the world,” Squadron Leader Schultz said.
“We rely on a small amount of Australian staff in the United States to provide insight to us here in JSF Division as we plan for the arrival of our first two F-35A aircraft at RAAF Base Williamtown at the end of 2018.
Australian staff based in the US are working with Lockheed Martin and the United States Air Force in operating and sustaining the F-35As everyday, including Australia’s first two F-35A aircraft which are flying at the international Pilot Training Centre at Luke Air Force Base.
CASG (Formerly DMO)