Lockheed Martin, Magestic Systems, Nikon Metrology Win Innovation Award For F-35

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Lockheed Martin, Magestic Systems, Nikon Metrology Win Innovation Award For F-35 Program
26 APRIL 2010

Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT], jointly with Magestic Systems, Inc. (MSI) and Nikon Metrology, has won a first-place JEC Innovation Award in composites manufacturing for technology used in the production of the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter.

The 2010 JEC Innovation Award was presented in Paris in recognition of the cured laminate compensation (CLC) process – an innovative composite manufacturing solution for achieving precision, as-built laminate thickness without costly post-cure machining. This new metrology-assisted process is used in the production of composite parts for the F-35 and was developed specifically to pre-measure and correct the thickness of cured composite wing skins for the F-35. The technology will result in significant cost savings to Lockheed Martin and its F-35 global supply network.

“The award spotlights a highly innovative process in the most innovative fighter production system ever devised,” said Mike Packer, Lockheed Martin vice president of Manufacturing Strategy & Processes. “This process increases production of right-first-time composite parts, using both MSI’s Ply Compensation™ System (PCS™) and Nikon Metrology’s Laser Radar technology.”

The award was presented at an April 13 ceremony during the opening of the JEC Show in Paris. A jury of renowned international experts selected the best composite innovations, based on their technical interest, market potential, partnership, financial impact and originality. The JEC Show is JEC Composites’ annual conference focused on the application and advancement of composites. JEC Composites is the leading network supporting the global composite industry.

The F-35 Lightning II is a 5th generation fighter, combining advanced stealth with fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations, advanced sustainment, and lower operational and support costs. Lockheed Martin is developing the F-35 with its principal industrial partners, Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems. Two separate, interchangeable F-35 engines are under development: the Pratt & Whitney F135 and the GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team F136.



Source: Lockheed Martin

 

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ATK Announces $250 Million in Contract Awards for F-35 Lightning II Composite Wing Skins, Nacelles, and Inlet Ducts
UNITED STATES - 26 APRIL 2010

MINNEAPOLIS, April 26 -- Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) announced today that it has received a contract in excess of $240 million from Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) to produce additional composite components for low rate initial production (LRIP) lots 4 - 8 of the F-35 Lightning II – or Joint Strike Fighter. Under the terms of the contract with Lockheed Martin, ATK will use advanced fiber-placement technology to provide upper wing-box skins, lower wing-box skins, and engine nacelle skins for the conventional take-off and landing (CTOL), and short take-off/vertical landing (STOVL) variants of the F-35. Production will take place at ATK's Clearfield, Utah facility beginning in 2010, and continuing through 2015.

Separately, the company announced that it has successfully expanded its content on the F-35. ATK has received a new $10 million contract from Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) to manufacture composite inlet ducts for the F-35. Northrop Grumman is the design authority and primary producer of the inlet ducts and has contracted ATK as a second source supplier for inlet duct production. ATK will begin manufacturing inlet ducts during the low rate initial production (LRIP) phase 4 of the program with deliveries occurring through mid-2011. The follow-on, full-scale production phase of the contract is potentially worth an additional $40 million. Production of the inlet ducts will take place at ATK's facility in Rocket Center, West Virginia.

The F-35 Lightning II is a 5th generation fighter, combining advanced stealth with fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations, advanced sustainment, and lower operational and support costs.

"The F-35 is a cornerstone of ATK's growth strategy for our aerospace structures business. Combined with existing work on commercial aircraft such as the Airbus A350, and the potential of new composite contracts for both military and commercial aircraft, our Aerospace Structures business is well positioned to become one of ATK's growth engines," said Mark DeYoung, President and CEO.

ATK pioneered the automated fiber placement process in the early 1980s and is an industry leader in the production of fiber-placed aerospace structures. ATK has 11 fiber-placement machines and proprietary production processes that shorten the manufacturing cycle, and produce extremely high quality, complex composite components with unmatched repeatability.


Source: Alliant Techsystems

 

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Italian navy, air force officials visit F-35 training wing
UNITED STATES - 26 APRIL 2010

EGLIN U.S. AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Representatives from the Italian air force and navy visited the 33rd Fighter Wing here April 20 in an effort to check the progress of the first F-35 Lightning II integrated training center and learn more about this new coalition venture.

"Things are moving, and this program is becoming real," said Rear Admiral Paolo Treu, the Italian director of naval aviation department and commander of the Italian fleet air arm. "I'm grateful to Eglin (Air Force Base) for giving us this opportunity. A lot of work has been done. A lot of work has to be done."

Italy's military is one of several partner nations that will be training joint strike fighter pilots and maintainers at the 33rd FW.

"We are honored to host representatives from the Italian navy and air force," said Col. David Hlatky, the 33rd FW commander. "We are all on the same JSF team, and it's our privilege to share how the integrated training center is progressing. A lot of good things are coming together in the 33d Fighter Wing and the JSF program."

Admiral Treu said the timing of the visit serves two main purposes.

"(The visit) was a good opportunity to see a lot of the requirements for the joint strike fighter," he said. "The other reason is that we will be a part of the integrated training center."

The Italian military will send two F-35s to the center in 2014 and the country will receive its first 5th generation fighter in 2015, he said. The F-35 program is important to the Italian navy efforts to "maintain the capability of power projection from the sea to the ground."

"For the Italian navy, it is a crucial program because there is no replacement for the Harrier," Admiral Treu said. "In order to be useful in the international contest, you need to have the JSF. If you have the carrier, but you don't have the JSF, you could not be able, in the future, to be part of the initial strikes on enemy territory."

Admiral Treu and Brig. Gen. Roberto Nordio, the Italian air force logistic department chief, both expressed the importance of training with international partners.

"This melting pot of different cultures is very important because everybody has a different way of looking at business," Admiral Treu said. "It (puts) together the best practices of all the different countries in a synergistic way to increase our potential."

The training relationship between the United States and Italy stands on a solid foundation, General Nordio said.

"Starting from 1979, we (have) regularly sent pilots to Air Force facilities," the general said. "Our relationship is quite strong, and we really believe it is quite effective. The F-35 is a revolution in (the) air combat environment, (and) it will make our services more interoperable with other nations, especially the United States."

Italian air force officials plan to train some 180 pilots and about 1,800 maintainers from now through 2026, he said. Officials wish to send the first pilots and maintainers in 2013.

During their visit, the group received a 33rd FW mission brief and a tour of the construction site where students will study and train on the F-35.

 

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General Sees Opportunity, Innovation at F-35 Training Wing
UNITED STATES - 6 MAY 2010

(Eglin AFB, Fla., May 6, 2010) -- The commander of Air Education and Training Command visited the 33rd Fighter Wing April 26 here.

General Stephen R. Lorenz visited Eglin Air Force Base to observe how the wing staff is taking "the opportunity to shape the future," by training pilots and maintainers on the F-35 Lightning II.

"(The wing's mission connects to) not just a larger Air Force mission, but a larger (Department of Defense) mission, because they have the opportunity to shape the future on how we fly, maintain and integrate the F-35 across all the services including international (partners) that will be coming here," General Lorenz said.

More than 2,100 F-35 pilots and maintainers are projected to annually train on the fifth generation aircraft when the wing reaches full capacity in 2014.

Officials from the Air Force, Marines, Navy and international partner nations are set to send their students to Eglin AFB for instruction on the F-35.

"General Lorenz's positive feedback and motivation couldn't have been timelier," said Col. David Hlatky, the 33rd Fighter Wing commander. "Our folks are feeling the drain of driving integration and best practices for F-35 training. At the same time they are bedding down new equipment and learning complex new systems. When the four-star validated their innovative concepts, thanked them for the effort and then asked how he can help, everyone got a lift."

Included in the general's visit was a 33rd FW "all hands" call where he addressed more than 200 Airmen, Marines, Sailors, contract partners and one Soldier.

"It was a lot of insight on how he sees things," said Marine Cpl. Lewis McCormick, from the Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501. "He talked about how it was important for us being the first boots on the ground and setting the tone for future joint operations. It made me a little more proud to be a part of this organization."

Like all new ventures, challenges are bound to arise, the general said.

"There are lots of challenges whenever you bring new weapons systems on board," he said. "There are challenges on the integration of the services and the international (partners), how we are going to share the ranges around here, how we are going to share the runways."

"A lot of great leaders from the all the services are working these issues on a day-to-day basis and are doing a great job," General Lorenz said. "As a team, I expect them to build a foundation for others in the future to move the ball down the field. They are going to have an opportunity to shape the future. That opportunity is only given to a few people, especially in such a large defense program like the (joint strike fighter), which is the largest defense program in the DOD at this time."

To keep pace with the expanding realm of technology, AETC officials recently added a fourth core competency; innovation, the general said.

As 33rd FW members prepare to continue their air power dominance for the next half century by training aviators and maintainers on the joint strike fighter, the general forecasted innovation on a multitude of levels.

"This is a perfect example with the leveling off top lines of the DOD budget: where they have to think faster, better and cheaper in order to accomplish the same mission in the 21st century," General Lorenz said. "Building and bringing the F-35 to Eglin (AFB) and the 33rd FW is on the cutting edge of all these issues, and they are on the forefront of innovation."

The 33rd Fighter Wing staff ceased operations of the F-15 Eagle in September 2009 and became the DOD's first F-35 training wing Oct. 1, 2009. The F-35 establishment at Eglin AFB stems from a 2005 Base Realignment and Closure directive.