Fighter jet work takes off at Samlesbury BAE plant (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Fighter jet work takes off at Samlesbury BAE plant

11:09am Wednesday 17th March 2010 in

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AEROSPACE giant BAE Systems has started manufacturing work at its East Lancashire site on the first world-leading fighter jet for the British government.

Engineers at the defence firm’s Samlesbury plant are working on the first F-36 Lightning II aircraft that will be delivered to the Ministry of Defence.

Defence Minister Quentin Davies visited Samlesbury to mark the occasion.

The MoD has ordered three F-35s, the world’s most advance military aircraft. BAE is building the aft fuselage, with other parts of the jet built by contractors including US company Lockheed Martin and Rolls-Royce.

Mick Ord, BAE’s F-35 managing director, said: “The F-35 programme is essential to the sustainment of the UK aerospace manufacturing industry, so it’s great to have such support from the UK government.”