F-35 Production In Japan, Italy Affected By Coronavirus Written 5 March 2020
A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter from the 58th Fighter Squadron, 33rd Fighter Wing, Eglin AFB, FL | U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Donald R. Allen/Wikipedia
Reuters reports that production at the F-35 factory in Japan “has paused for a week due to concerns over the coronavirus outbreak, a U.S. defense official said on Wednesday.” Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Ellen Lord told reporters on the sidelines of a defense conference, “In Japan, I believe they shut down the FACO for a week.” However, “deliveries were not impacted, Lord said.” DoD spokesman Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Mike Andrews said in a statement, “In Japan, to comply with Japanese Coronavirus directives, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is temporarily closing the Japanese FACO for one week; of note, only Japanese aircraft are produced at this FACO.”
Full Story (Reuters)