The first shipset of parts from BAE Systems’ advanced manufacturing facility at Edinburgh Parks was delivered to Marand’s F-35 vertical tail fin assembly line in Victoria this week.
The shipset comprises around 30 complex titanium components of varying sizes that will form part of two vertical tails for each of more than 722 F-35s during the next 20 years.
Chief executive David Allott said that this was a significant advanced manufacturing milestone for both companies.
This year, BAE Systems will deliver three sets of aircraft parts to Marand, which will increase to up to 70 shipsets annually over the life of the contract.
The production of parts forms a large part of BAE Systems’ expanded facility at Edinburgh Park, with investments providing a machining capability that is one of only two in the world.
The new facility will have the capability to manufacture large-scale components to support commercial aircraft, commercial industries and other defence projects and will start production in January 2014.
