Defence Business: Marand signs for JSF vertical tails | ADM Apr 2011

Gregor Ferguson | Sydney

The Melbourne SME has signed one of the biggest agreements so far of any Australian supplier on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program, a Long Term Agreement (LTA) with BAE Systems PLC in the UK worth $790 million to manufacture 722 vertical tails for the F-35.

Under the agreement Marand will assemble the tails from metal components manufactured in-house and by BAE Systems Australia, and supply these direct to the F-35 assembly line in Ft Worth.

BAE Systems Australia will machine the vertical tails’ titanium components in Adelaide; first deliveries are due in 2013, according to Marand’s managing director, David Ellul, with up to 70 sets a year at its height.

To meet this surge in demand the company will establish a new aerostructures manufacturing facility near Geelong employing some 300 staff to produce both JSF airframe components and the JSF engine trailer which it already manufactures under a separate contract from prime contractor Lockheed Martin; 10 have been delivered so far with a total program requirement for about 250.

The company also manufactures manufacturing tooling for the F-35, and the total value of the vertical tails, engine trailers and tooling work for Marand and its network of suppliers is expected to be around $1.2 billion.

“The BAE Systems team and Marand have worked together successfully on the F-35 for the past four years including the last 18 months on the vertical tails,” BAE Systems group managing director - international Guy Griffiths said. “This long-term agreement will bring more work into Australia. It underscores not only our confidence in the F-35 program but also in our continuing relationship with Marand.”