Increasing GKN Involvement in the JSF Program

(May 17, 2007) -- Australian aerospace design capacity is experiencing a significant 'brain gain' from local industry's involvement in high value work on the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program.

With up to 200 engineers working on the JSF, Melbourne-based GKN Aerospace Engineering Services has designed a substantial part of the JSF airframe. GKN is the largest airframe design engineering contributor to the JSF Program outside the three international prime contractors - Lockheed Martin, BAE SYSTEMS and Northrop Grumman.

Since its first JSF contract in June 2003 - the first awarded to an Australian company - GKN has designed some 3000 JSF parts and provided over one million design man hours to the Program.

GKN Director and General Manager Mr Tony Quick said: "GKN has significantly increased Australia's engineering skill base with the recruitment of some 80 world class Australian graduates over the last three years, in addition to a significant number of experienced engineers, both Australian expatriates and new migrants, creating a significant 'brain gain' in contrast to the 'brain drain' of recent times."

Source : DoD Australia

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