Australian Firm Wins $80M Order for F-35 JSF Engine Parts
Mar 10, 2006 09:01 EST
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Melbourne-based family company Production Parts won what is potentially Australia’s biggest-ever military aircraft engine parts deal: an agreement to supply high-pressure turbine supports for the JSF’s Pratt & Whitney F135 engine. Production Parts was also chosen in 2004 to produce a titanium bearing housing for the fighter, and the two deals bring the potential value of the overall work to more than $60 million (A$ 80 million) over the life of the JSF project. The company expects to double its output over the next five years and add 50 staff to meet demand.
Production Parts managing director Peter Nicholls also noted that the Australian approach to the JSF project changed the way contracts were negotiated…
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Aerospace companies in Australia formed an industry capability team of about 40 companies to work directly with the prime contractors offshore instead of dealing through an intermediary. This approach created visibility for smaller firms at the very top level of the defense contracting pyramid, which has the potential to lead to work on other projects as well.
Mr Nicholls estimates the company has spent about $3 million on the JSF work, introducing high-tech improvements such as computer-aided manufacturing software and sophisticated five-axis machine tools. Some of the parts were so complex that the company had spent seven months developing a manufacturing plan for one component before any metal was cut.
Australia plans to buy up to 100 conventional take-off and landing versions of the F-35 – at an estimated cost of at least A$ 16 billion – to replace its F-111s and F/A 18s. See full article in The Australian.
