Page 43 - AAPT March 2019

Defence
in June 2018 and completed work on 21
February 2019.
A core structure of the F-35 aircraft,
the centre fuselage is designed and
produced on Northrop Grumman’s
integrated assembly line, a state-of-the-
art facility supported by technologies
exclusive to or pioneered by Northrop
Grumman bringing together robotics,
autonomous systems, virtual 3D and
"The Boeing Airpower Teaming System predictive automation to the forefront and this work will allow us to continue
will provide a disruptive advantage of centre fuselage production. supporting the Royal Australian Air
for allied forces’ manned/unmanned Kevin Mickey, sector vice president Force’s mission and the Australian
missions. and general manager of military defence industry at large.”
"With its ability to reconfigure quickly aircraft systems at Northrop Grumman, To further support the execution of
and perform different types of missions welcomed the milestone, saying, “Our this assignment, Northrop Grumman
in tandem with other aircraft, our newest teams and suppliers are constantly Australia is establishing an Electronic
addition to Boeing’s portfolio will truly finding better, more affordable ways to Sustainment Centre (ESC) to sustain
be a force multiplier as it protects and deliver a superior product on time, at- mission-readiness capabilities within
projects air power." cost and, as with this centre fuselage, the Commonwealth. After achieving
Minister Ciobo said that Boeing will ahead of schedule. When you couple readiness in January 2019 to support
seek to team with large, medium and this level of commitment with advanced regional APN-241 radar repair, the
small Australian businesses and partner manufacturing technologies, it’s just a ESC is prepared to support key fifth-
with research organisations, including win-win situation for us, our customer generation communications, navigation
universities and the Defence Science and the warfighter.” and identification systems.
and Technology Group. Northrop Grumman has been In addition to producing the centre
"The development and demonstration producing centre fuselages for all fuselage and wing skins for the aircraft,
of this air vehicle will create around 100 three F-35 variants since May 2004 the company develops, produces and
new high-technology jobs in aerospace as part of the global F-35 production maintains several sensor systems,
engineering and design in Australia, as line. Lockheed Martin is the industry avionics, mission systems and mission-
well as wider job opportunities across lead for the F-35 program and planning software, pilot and maintainer
the supply chain," Minister Ciobo said. Northrop Grumman plays a key role training systems courseware, electronic
"This proposal could lead to another in the development, modernisation, warfare simulation test capability and
exciting step forward in Australia’s sustainment and production of the F-35. low-observable technologies.
defence export strategy and provide our This announcement follows Northrop For the RAAF, the F-35A’s
allies with critical capabilities based on Grumman’s recent announcement that combination of full-spectrum low-
Australian ingenuity." it had secured additional, follow-on observable stealth coatings and
Defence will invest around $10 maintenance, repair, overhaul and materials, advanced radar-dispersing
million per year, up to $40 million, to upgrade (MRO&U) work for Australian shaping, network-centric sensor and
evolve development of this concept. and Asia-Pacific allies’ fleets of F-35 communications suites – combined

Defence Connect JSFs. with a lethal strike capability – means
Based on the recent contract the aircraft will be the ultimate force
multiplying, air-combat platform.
No r t h r o p G r um m an assignment, Northrop Grumman Ten nations are currently flying
Australia will deliver avionics,
delivers 500th F-35 centre composites (teaming with Quickstep) F-35s, including the US, UK, Italy,
fuselage component and electro-optics repair (teaming with Norway, Israel and Japan. The F-35A
BAE Systems) services. In providing – the variant chosen by the RAAF – will
Northrop Grumman has officially these services, the company will have with a projected life of 30 years
announced the delivery of the 500th leverage its existing capabilities, as in service.
centre fuselage for the F-35 Joint Strike well as introduce new technologies Over the coming years, Australia
Fighter. The centre fuselage piece for to the Australian defence industrial will purchase 72 of the advanced fifth-
AU-18 will eventually be delivered to the community. generation fighter aircraft as part of
Royal Australian Air Force as an F-35A. Warren King, interim chief executive the $17 billion AIR 6000 Phase 2A/B
Designated AU-18, the 500th F-35 of Northrop Grumman Australia, said at program – which is aimed at replacing
centre fuselage is for a conventional the time: “Northrop Grumman Australia the ageing F/A-18A/B Classic Hornets
take-off and landing variant for the continues to be fully committed to that have been in service with the RAAF
RAAF. Northrop Grumman began growing its in-country technical since 1985.
production on the AU-18 centre fuselage sustainment workforce and capabilities, Defence Connect

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