Australia has been chosen to provide maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrades (MROU) for more components of the Joint Strike Fighter in the Asia Pacific.
The announcement adds to Australian industry’s prior winning of F-35 MROU assignments for the South Pacific, for propulsion systems in the Asia-Pacific, and for 64 out of 65 Tier 1 components, as well as the Asia-Pacific regional warehouse.
The winning local companies include the Australian subsidiaries of: BAE Systems for munitions, avionics and canopy systems; Northrop Grumman for avionics, composites, and electro-optics; MOOG for hydraulics; and RUAG for pumps, landing gear, hydraulics, auxiliary power systems, and valves, as well as NIOA for munitions, General Electric Aviation for electrics, and Survitec Group for life support.
“The collaborative approach taken by the Australian Government and industry has been the key to the success in securing additional F-35 sustainment work for Australian business," BAE Systems CEO Gabby Costigan said. "It will put Australia at the forefront of F-35 component sustainment."
BAE Systems plans to deliver the majority of the services for this contract from its Williamtown, NSW facility adjacent to the RAAF base, as well as utilising its workshop capabilities in Edinburgh Parks, Adelaide.
“Australian companies have been awarded 343 out of a possible 388 components in the latest tranche of assignments – a significant achievement and a major boost for our economy,” Minister for Defence Christopher Pyne said.
“This announcement again proves that our defence industry can equal and beat the best in the world when it comes to sustaining complex aviation assets.”
“It is clear that Australia will be in prime position to further expand as a regional F-35 maintenance hub and build on its global capability into the future,” Minister for Defence Industry Steven Ciobo said.
“Already local industry has secured more than AU$1.3 billion in contracts from F-35 design and production work, resulting in opportunities for Australian industry beyond the F-35 program.”
“Today’s announcement is the next step in opportunities opening up a market for aircraft component repair, which will be part of the F-35 Global Support Solution and cements Australia as a key strategic partner in the global F-35 enterprise."