Tel Aviv. Cyclone, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Elbit Systems was awarded a contract by Lockheed Martin for the manufacture of assemblies for Forward Equipment Bay (FEB) assemblies for the F-35 all-weather stealth multirole combat aircraft. The contract will be performed over a period of four-years.
The contract calls for Elbit Systems to supply assemblies for F-35’s Forward Equipment Bay – made from composite materials and the associated structures – for all F-35 aircraft variants.
Elbit Systems will deliver more than 1,400 components to Lockheed Martin during the contract period. The decision by Lockheed Martin comes as a result of Elbit Systems successful performance on the production of other composite structures for the F-35 program.
This award further expands Elbit Systems work on the F-35, which includes the helmet mounted display systems, the development of the panoramic cockpit display, power amplifiers and 22 different structural assemblies.
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is manufacturing wings of the F-35 and so far has delivered over 170 wings sets. The wings manufacturing center of IAI’s aviation division was established in November 2014. It is based on the extensive know-how and experience in making wings for the F-16 and T-38.
The center is now expected to manufacture more than 800 F-35 wings by 2034. On December 2018, IAI inaugurated an innovative line for production of F-35 wing skins, expanding the collaboration between the two companies.
Israel has signed a contract for 50 F-35 and now is considering the purchase of another 25. 10 Israeli companies are supplying assembles and electrical parts for the F-35 program. The major supplier is Israel aerospace industries (IAI).
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
