Alenia Still Plans To Build JSF, Says BAE Can Help Out With M-346
"We expect to get a significant return from the Joint Strike
Fighter," says Finmeccanica president and CEO Pier-Francesco
Guarguaglini, "and we would still like to see an Italian
completion line for the aircraft."
Guarguaglini maintains a positive outlook for Alenia's role in
the JSF program, which has been behind press reports that the
Italian manufacturer hopes to establish a JSF line of its own
to serve the national customer-and perhaps others.
The Italian optimism has been greeted with bemusement elsewhere.
Even the UK, which is the largest export customer and foreign
funding contributor for the JSF, does not expect to actually be
allowed build aircraft by the U.S.
Guarguaglini has further news for the British; he says they might
be able to lend a hand with the Aermacchi M-346 advanced trainer.
"The M-346 has been promoted to the RAF and it will open
further doors in the UK for us, even if BAE Systems mightn't say
that to you."
However, referring to the proposed Finmeccanica and BAE Systems
military electronics joint venture, he continued "If we become
friends then let's see what we can do together. Perhaps we can
co-operate on the M-346.
