The Department of Defense announced today that a Memorandum of Understanding(MOU) for United Kingdom participation in the Joint Advanced Strike TechnologyProgram (JAST) has been signed.
The UK will participate as a collaborative partner for the ConceptDemonstration Phase (CDP) of the JAST Program.
The proposed JAST Short Takeoffand Vertical Landing (STOVL) aircraft offers a potential supersonic futurecarrier-borne aircraft to replace the Royal Navy-92s Sea Harrier.
A draftrequest for proposal (RFP) for the JAST CDP was issued to industry for commentand the formal RFP will be issued in the Spring of 1996.
The source selectionprocess will award one or more CDP contracts.
The UK will contribute $200million to the MOU project cost target of $2.0 billion.
Development of objectives and scope of work for future cooperation in theJAST
Engineering and Manufacturing Development and Production phases will be coveredunder subsequent agreements.
The UK brings 35 years of STOVL technological andoperational experience to the JAST Program.
The MOU was signed concurrently by Dr. Paul Kaminski, DoD Under Secretary ofDefense for Acquisition and Technology, and Dr. Malcolm McIntosh, Chief ofDefence Procurement for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and NorthernIreland.
