BOEING SHOWS OFF JET DESIGNS; ATTACK FIGHTER TEST MODELS MAKE THEIR DEBUT AT PLANT 42.

Byline: Jim Skeen Staff Writer

Boeing rolled out Tuesday its two prototypes in the competition to build a stealthy but affordable new attack jet, a multibillion-dollar defense program that Boeing's CEO said could mean jobs for the Antelope Valley.

During the unveiling at U.S. Air Force Plant 42 of Boeing's two Joint Strike Fighter prototypes, Boeing Chief Executive Officer Phil Condit said Palmdale will be ``crucial part'' of the program, although final assembly will take place in St. Louis.

``We're going to do a lot of stuff in Palmdale,'' said Condit, who refused to specify the nature of the work. ``We have a great work force here and we will utilize it.''

Boeing is competing with Lockheed Martin for the rights to produce the fighter for the U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy, and for the British Royal Navy and Air Force.

Intended to replace the Air Force F-16, the Marines' vertical-takeoff AV-8B Harrier and the Navy F/A-18 Hornet, the JSF program has a potential worth of $750 million to $1 trillion dollars over its lifetime and could generate as many as 50,000 jobs.

Both the Boeing and Lockheed Martin prototypes will fly next year. The Pentagon is expected to pick a winner in 2001.

Lockheed Martin has not yet held its rollout ceremony for its prototypes, also being built in Palmdale.

``The rollout itself doesn't affect the competition. It's a celebration,'' Condit said. ``The competition isn't going to be won here. It will be won in the proposals.''

With swept wings, twin tails and a large air intake under the nose, both the Air Force and Navy versions of the Boeing JSF are 46 feet long, about three feet shorter than a F-16 fighter.

The Air Force version has a 36-foot wingspan, equal to that of an F-16. The Navy version has a 32-foot wingspan and will be small enough to be stored on an aircraft carrier without needing the folding wings used on today's carrier airplanes.

Pentagon officials describe the JSF as a complementary aircraft to the Air Force F-22 Raptor, produced by Lockheed Martin in Georgia but subject of an intense fight in Congress this year. While the Raptor clears the skies of enemy fighters, the JSF would attack targets on the ground.

Boeing officials said they are on target to meet Pentagon cost goals of $28 million for each of the Air Force aircraft, $31 million for a carrier-based airplane, and $30 million to $35 million for a short-takeoff and landing aircraft that will replace Harrier jets for the U.S. Marines and the Royal Navy.

Boeing was originally going to unveil just one prototype, but work on the second aircraft - one testing technologies for the Navy and Marines - had progressed far enough the company was able to show off both.

``You're seeing a lot of happy folks and proud parents,'' said Frank Statkus, Boeing's JSF vice president and general manager.

Boeing is shooting for the two versions to share about 80 percent of their parts, allowing the company to keep production and maintenance costs down.

The first aircraft, the Air Force design, will undergo a series of ground tests and engine runs before flying sometime this spring. The second airplane is about 60 to 90 days behind the first.

Boeing is looking at getting in 40 to 50 flights and rack up about 100 hours of flying during the test program. Testing will be done at Edwards Air Force Base and later at the Navy's flight test center in Maryland.

Antelope Valley officials are trying to get both Boeing and Lockheed Martin to take another look at Palmdale as a possible location for building the jets. Lockheed Martin has indicated it will assemble its jets in Ft. Worth, Texas, but will do parts work in Palmdale.

Antelope Valley officials say Air Force Plant 42's Site 4, where the B-2 bombers were built, would be a better choice than St. Louis for Boeing and Ft. Worth for Lockheed Martin.

A consultant's report, financed by the city of Palmdale and the state Trade and Commerce Agency, says contractors could save $2.2 billion by assembling the aircraft in Palmdale, including $932 million from in-state research and development tax breaks.

Rep. Howard ``Buck'' McKeon, R-Santa Clarita, whose district includes Palmdale, introduced legislation this fall that would require the Pentagon to examine potential assembly sites for the program and report back to Congress on which sites would be the most cost-effective.

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3 Photos

PHOTO (1 -- 3 -- color -- ran in AV edition only) Guests stand up to get a better look at Boeing's fighter prototypes, top, introduced by CEO Phil Condit, far right. At right, Barbara Gleich adds the final piece of an employee display.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer