In the American aerospace industry, the two major military aircraft manufacturers who dominate the domestic and international scene are Boeing and Lockheed. Browse through the fi rst instalment of the article.

During the Second World War the US aircraft manufacturing industry registered huge growth and significantly contributed to the Allied victory. With modest beginnings, propelled by wartime demand, the industry grew rapidly and flourished primarily in the military aircraft segment. The unique feature of this segment of the American industry during this period was that there was an uninterrupted and plentiful supply of raw materials and that the production facilities were largely immune to any military threat from the enemy both from the air and on the ground.

Ranked as the largest single industry in the world in the period from 1939 to 1945, with a workforce of over two million and value of production peaking at $16 billion (Rs 72,000 crore) in 1944, the industry manufactured more than 300,000 military aircraft to meet with the wartime requirements of the US armed forces and the Allies. In 1940, President Franklin D. Roosevelt had set a target for the industry to produce 50,000 military aircraft per year. However, the industry was afflicted by shortage of skilled human resources and infrastructure. To improve the situation, women were employed in large numbers to release men for specialised jobs, production lines were run 24x7, and efficiency levels in production were enhanced. Several light aircraft manufacturers switched over to war-related production and many of the automobile manufacturing facilities were remodelled for manufacturing of aircraft. Policy regarding sale of aircraft to friendly nations was also liberalised. Towards the end of the War, supply of military aircraft exceeded demand ultimately forcing cut back in the rate of production.

The industry matured considerably during the War as apart from the huge numbers produced, it developed the capability to design and manufacture new combat aircraft. The Second World War, therefore, laid the foundation of the US aerospace industry whose wartime accomplishments are regarded as the most outstanding and laudable.

Post-Second World War

In the period immediately following the Second World War, demand for military aircraft dwindled on account of which there was considerable turmoil in the industry. The focus of the American aerospace industry quickly shifted to the manufacture of passenger aircraft for civilian use. However, the military aircraft sector continued to be spurred by a new development—the arms race triggered by the Cold War and the perception of threat to national security. Military confrontation and rivalry with the USSR provided the impetus to aerospace companies for research and development for newer and more potent weapon systems. The industry was faced with new demands that led to the development of aircraft for both military and civilian use e.g. Boeing 707/KC135 as also combat aircraft separately such as F-15 Eagle and the F-14 Tomcat for their primary customers, the US Air Force (USAF) and the US Navy (USN), respectively.

In an attempt to control costs, the government tasked the industry to develop a common fighter aircraft to meet the requirements of different agencies. One such programme called the Tactical Fighter Experimental (TFX) programme undertaken jointly by Grumman and General Dynamics, ran into difficulty on account of the problem of integrating into a single machine the widely varying requirements projected by the USAF and the USN. The end result was that the F-111B which was to be a fighter in fact evolved into a bomber aircraft. The other aerospace companies that were awarded major longterm contracts for military aircraft were Lockheed Martin for the F-16 Fighting Falcon, McDonnell Douglas for the F-15E Strike Eagle, Grumman for the F-14 Tomcat and Boeing for the Longbow helicopter for the US Army. Rising unit cost of aircraft meant smaller orders and companies often needed government support by way of fresh contracts or bailout package to remain viable. Lockheed Corporation was one such entity that received massive government support in 1974.