Western Arizona Economic Development District

WHITE PAPER

April 6, 2009

STATEMENT OF THE F-35 AIRCRAFT FIELDING OPPORTUNITY FOR ARIZONA:

The Department of Defense has developed a new fighter aircraft, the Joint Strike Fighter or F-35.  Currently there is some turmoil surrounding the decision to field the early production aircraft at Eglin AFB, FL, where initial deployment and Instructor Pilot training were to be located. Alternate sites have been explored, and the Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS), Yuma has been notified it is a potential site. In addition the United States Marine Corps and Unites States Air Force are conducting Environmental Impact Studies (EIS) for their West Coast Aircraft Replacement strategy for aging aircraft within their fleet. In the event that just a one-for-one exchange is adopted as the replacement procedure, MCAS Yuma and Luke Air Force Base will receive enough F-35 aircraft that it will position Arizona as the largest contingent of the F-35 fleet in the United States.

A multitude of natural and geographic area assets distinguish Yuma MCAS from any other Department of Defense location, and make it ideal for the initial training and fielding. The symbiosis of ideal flying weather (Nation leading 240 clear days/year), hundreds of miles of restricted flying airspace, some of the service’s largest aerial testing ranges, no encroachment issues, and no known barriers for Marine Corps Air Base expansion, ensure a support system that will nurture the mission of the F-35B, if not the entire fleet, at MCAS Yuma.

BACKGROUND:

The Yuma International Airport/MCAS runway system is built to military standards and includes one of the longest and strongest civilian runways in use – 13,300 feet – accompanied by three additional runways one of which is 9,239 feet.  Characteristic weather affords virtual year-round, 24-hour operations. As the scheduling authority for the Yuma Training Range Complex (YTRC), MCAS Yuma provides fleet squadrons access to 10,000 square miles of special-use airspace designated for military aviation training and almost 2,000 square miles of underlying land including the Chocolate Mountain Aerial Bombing and Gunnery Range. MCAS Yuma provides an abundance of trained talent through Marine tour ending/exiting personnel (1000 annually) and young retirees (30 annually) from military careers, with avionics/aeronautical maintenance expertise.

On Oct. 26, 2001, the Lockheed Martin-led JSF team won a $19 billion contract to develop the next-generation F-35. Final assembly of the single-engine F-35 will take place at Lockheed Martin’s mile-long factory in Fort Worth, with 2,593 aircraft originally planned for the United States Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, and the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force and Royal Navy. Expected F-35 orders from other allied nations are likely to push the total number of F-35s beyond 4,500. Lockheed Martin (LM) is engaged in the design, oversight or support of every major F-35 subsystem. The company also is responsible for producing the F-35’s forward fuselage, wings and edges, which will be mated to the center fuselage (Northrop Grumman) and the aft fuselage and tails (BAE SYSTEMS) in Fort Worth. LM, other contractors, and the Services must determine contractually how to train, maintain and support the fielded fleet, and MCAS Yuma will be evolved in hosting part, if not all, of this activity.

For example, the F-35 program has a potential value of $200 billion, and Northrop Grumman’s work share represents approximately 25 percent of that total. Four of Northrop Grumman’s seven operating sectors participate in the F-35 program: Integrated Systems, Electronic Systems, Mission Systems and Space Technology. Some or all these sectors must have presence to support at MCAS Yuma.

Pratt & Whitney was awarded a ten year $4.8 billion (U.S.) contract for System Development and Demonstration (SDD) of the engine. Under the SDD contract, Pratt & Whitney developed the F135 propulsion system and have progressed through flight clearance, flight test, and qualification for Low Rate Initial Production, which began in 2009. With the help of teammates Rolls Royce and Hamilton Sundstrand, Pratt & Whitney reached many noteworthy milestones in 2003 in this development, and some or all of these will require a presence.

Variants of the F-35

F-35A (CTOL): This version advances U.S. Air Force expeditionary capabilities with maintainable stealth, next-generation sensor fusion, larger payloads, greater unrefueled range and increased time over target.

F-35B (STOVL): The short takeoff and landing version provides the U.S. Marines and the U.K. Royal Navy and Air Force with a supersonic short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) capability. The aircraft offers stealth, unprecedented range and payload bring-back capabilities.

F-35C (CV): Carrier version aircraft enhance naval air power projection, and provide stealth and an all-weather strike capability. Larger wing and tail structures enable superior low-speed handling for safe carrier approach. Tremendous internal fuel capacity provides extraordinary range without external tanks or refueling.

With nine countries and multiple international contractors (and their collective industrial prowess) involved in its development, the F-35 represents a new model of international cooperation, ensuring affordable U.S. and coalition partner security well into the 21st century. Therefore, it is important to note that many foreign companies and nations will also require a presence at the initial fielding sites.

FACTS BEARING ON THE INITIAL FIELDING OPPORTUNITY:

1. The F-35 initial deployment now is scheduled for Elgin Air Force Base in Florida by 2011.  This deployment would involve 59 JSF aircraft. These 59 aircraft are to provide for the training base aircraft, which will be used to train all the Services initially.
2. On 18 February 2009, the Valparaiso, Florida City Commissioners sued the Air Force in an attempt to block the initial fielding and training program due to the increased number of aircraft and anticipated adverse noise levels of the F-35.  Valparaiso County Commissioners, on the other hand, are launching a campaign that both embraces the training program and promotes the positive Economic Impact this will have on their region.
3. More than $146 million of military construction will be completed in the next 540 days at Eglin Air Force Base. Contracts have been awarded for nine facilities that will house the initial program. Plans include a $5 million dining facility and $15.8 million dormitories that will accommodate 600 students. Air Force and Navy operations hangars, with price tags totaling more than $58 million, and a $55.8 million training center will complete the complex. The construction project could grow to $400 million if 54 additional F-35’s come to Eglin. The scope of the project covers the current JSF Record of Decision (ROD). Once a final ROD is filed, the Air Force will build additional hangars.
4. On the West Coast, the Marine Corp proposes to replace existing AV-8b Harrier and F/A 18 A/C/D Hornet aircraft with up to 10 active-duty F-35B squadrons, establish an Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E) squadron, and relocate an F-35B reserve squadron. This proposed action will base up to 182 F-35B aircraft between MCAS Miramar and MCAS Yuma.
5. Results from the first public meeting held within the EIS process indicate that Yuma AZ residents unanimously approve and want the new aircraft.  Miramar results indicate the opposite.  Encroachment and noise complaints plague the Miramar station and the recent catastrophic crash that occurred in a residential neighborhood still weighs heavily on the constituents near Miramar.
6. Alternatives outlined for squadron basing will be weighted based on the results of these public meetings.  Five alternatives exist:
   1. Even 6×6 split between Miramar and Yuma
   2. 4 squadrons at Miramar – 8 squadrons at Yuma
   3. 8 squadrons at Miramar – 4 squadrons at Yuma
   4. 2 squadrons at Miramar – 10 squadrons at Yuma
   5. 10 squadrons at Miramar – 2 squadrons at Yuma
7. Training ranges to be utilized for these squadrons are Barry M. Goldwater Range, Yuma Proving Ground, Chocolate Mountains Range, Twentynine Palms and San Clemente Island (minimal).
8. Yuma International Airport has entered into an agreement with MCAS Yuma and Yuma Proving Ground that will dedicate their expansion area as a DOD/JSF Logistics/Maintenance complex.  Under construction is a hangar that is 15,000 sq ft. The hangar bay is 100′ x 110′ wide. The remaining available land owned by the airport will be used for military support development is two acres. This location offers advantages with low airfield operational use, reduced downtime of fleet, a close source to maintenance replacement kits and will be a direct benefit to MCAS Yuma.
9. The Goal for Yuma International Airport is to provide buildings and/or land for contractors of MCAS Yuma and Yuma Proving Ground. In partnership with MCAS, combined resources from both entities provide an attractive collection of assets that can fulfill all requirements of the F-35 training complex proposed for Elgin Air Force Base.
10. Existing Aerospace Companies that reside on-site at MCAS Yuma;

Bell Helicopters

Northrop Grumman

Boeing Helicopters

BAE Industries

FLIR Industries

Schweizer

Jacobs (NASA)

Para-Flite:

Strong

United Space Alliance

ATK- (ALLIANT TECH SYS INC)

RECOMMENDATION:

We are seeking your personal support with Congress, the Administration and DoD in positioning Arizona as the most advantageous stationing and training location for the F-35, and its maintenance and logistics center – at least for the West coast, if not for the entire US fleet. Arizona should be selected as the front-runner for base deployment of all the JSF aircraft, since that can include both MCAS Yuma and Luke Air Force Base.  MCAS Yuma is the logical backup location from among all the alternative sites being considered for training and testing of the aircraft, should the lawsuit in Elgin continue to be an issue and delay the projects’ timeline.  Yuma International Airport is a shovel ready site for all the JSF contractors that will be supporting the aircraft’s maintenance once the aircraft arrives at MCAS Yuma.  MCAS Yuma currently is preparing for the arrival of their allocation of deployments.  After receiving word of the lawsuit with Elgin, MCAS Yuma also took aggressive steps to position themselves as the logical location for the training center. Yuma and Arizona’s commitment to the military is reputed throughout the DOD, and that commitment and reputation would extend to all support contractors.  We need your voice in Washington DC that will make sure Arizona is not overlooked when these critical decisions are being made.  The economic benefit to Arizona is tremendous.