Australian companies continue to win new work on the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program.

Twenty three companies have contracts in the JSF development phase worth in total about A$160 million, with major additional opportunities in prospect.

GKN Aerospace Engineering in Melbourne has continued its JSF success story with well over one million hours of JSF design work under contract.

Melbourne-based Marand Precision Engineering’s existing ground support equipment and tooling contracts with Lockheed Martin have recently been extended with substantial additional work in the offing.

It is not just larger Australian companies that are proving their competitiveness on JSF.

Partech Systems, a small company based in Nowra, NSW, has secured additional JSF test equipment work from Northrop Grumman.

More recently, and in its first JSF contract, Adelaide’s Levett Engineering will machine specialised components for Lockheed Martin.

Production Parts in Melbourne has won additional work with JSF prime contractors and Parker Aerospace for airframe and engine components.

In a major development, BAE Systems (UK) has welcomed bids from both Marand and Aerotech International – a joint venture between Melbourne and Sydney based engineering companies Metaltec and Broens – for the supply of specialised JSF tooling. BAE Systems (UK) will begin discussions on the specific tool types required from each company.

“While this ongoing success demonstrates the international competitiveness of Australian industry, I re-iterate that the billions of dollars of identified future opportunities still need to be won in international competition” said Air Vice-Marshal John Harvey, Program Manager New Air Combat Capability (NACC).

“Plans for company growth are therefore essential, especially for SMEs, in a climate where Australian defence industry is already stretched to meet the heavy defence contract workload. Industry needs to manage growth as the JSF Program moves to full rate production. Capital investment, particularly in material processing capability and capacity is critical.

The NACC Integrated Project Team, working with Lockheed Martin, its JSF partners and local industry, is continuing its efforts to help Australian industry turn the opportunities into contracts,” said AVM Harvey.

The JSF engine removal and insertion trailer (pictured here with the engine being removed) was manufactured by Australian company Marand Precision Engineering.