Over 500 Companies in UK Supply Chain
BAE Systems has delivered its 1,000th F-35 rear fuselage to Lockheed Martin, the company announced on 7 February.
Over 1,500 staff in the company’s plant in Lancashire produce rear fuselages for every F-35, and have been delivering them since 2005. “The F-35 programme powers economic growth and prosperity for the UK, injecting approximately £41billion [US$49.6 billion) into the UK economy and supporting more than 20,000 jobs in the UK supply chain, many of those based in the North West […] With more than 500 companies in our UK supply chain, [we deliver] the world’s most advanced aircraft for the UK and 17 other allied nations,” commented Bridget Lauderdale, VP/GM F-36 programme at Lockheed Martin.
BAE Systems has been involved in the F-35 programme since its inception and plays key roles in development, manufacture and sustainment of the aircraft. The global programme of record amounts to more than 3,000 aircraft among the 17 customers. “This is an important milestone for our business and demonstrates both the expertise of our people and their commitment to delivering for the F-35 programme […] The roles we play today are underpinned by a world-class manufacturing pedigree and industrial know-how in the UK, which has been developed through decades of cutting-edge experience in combat air programmes,” explained Susan Addison, SVP for US Programmes at BAE Systems’ Air Sector.
