Defense One reported that Lockheed Martin has paused production of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft at a Japanese factory of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries due to the outbreak of the #coronavirus outbreak. This was stated by a senior Pentagon official. To some employees of an Italian company interested in the production of parts of the F-35, owned by Leonardo, he was told to work from home. He announced it to reporters Ellen Lord, Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Support, at a McAleese and Associates press conference in Washington.
"They decided to close for a week"Said the CEO of the Japanese factory. "Right now, I don't think this will affect the jet's deliveries ". Lieutenant colonel Mike Andrews, spokesman for Lord, wrote in an email: "In Japan, to comply with Japanese Coronavirus directives, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is temporarily shutting down the Japanese site that is in charge of final testing of the assembly facility for only 1 week".
Andrews also confirmed that Lockheed limited travel to the Leonardo factory in Cameri, Italy.Pratt & Whitney employees on that site were told to work from home. But production continues, Andrews wrote: "There were no impacts on the production line". Beyond the F-35, Lord said weapons programs with global supply chains are not interested in disruption due to the coronavirus outbreak.
"IAt this time we have not felt any effects, I have a dedicated team in this regard that is working intensively at the moment". Lockheed builds most of the F-35s in Fort Worth, Texas, but some allied jets are assembled in Japan and Italy.
A Lockheed spokesperson was unable, at the moment, to make any comment.