Turkey’s TAI Opens Composites Factory To Make Parts For F-35

Turkey’s TAI Opens Composites Factory To Make Parts For F-35 (NSI News Source Info) November 11, 2008: Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc. (TAI) today opened a new Advanced Composites Manufacturing Facility (ACMF) in Ankara, Turkey to support its role as a major subcontractor to Northrop Grumman Corporation on the U.S.-led F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter program. The 72,000 square foot ACMF, which represents a major upgrade of TAI’s existing composites manufacturing facilities, will enable the company to produce critical composite structures and subassemblies for the F-35’s center fuselage, one of the aircraft’s most complicated assemblies. It also positions TAI to fulfill its commitment to produce up to 400 center fuselages for the F-35 program. TAI laid the foundation for the new facility in June 2007. The Advanced Composites Manufacturing Facility was officially opened today during a ceremony attended by many military and civilian dignitaries. “The opening of this new facility is a major first step by TAI in demonstrating Turkey’s commitment to the success of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program,” said TAI Chairman Mr. Atalay Efeer. “We’re already using the facility’s advanced technology machinery to produce key composite subassemblies for Northrop Grumman. Beyond our extensive experience in composite and metal bonding technology, this new investment will help TAI to level up in the aerospace sector.” In February 2007, TAI and Northrop Grumman ISS International signed a Letter of Intent authorizing TAI to be a second source supplier of center fuselages for the F-35 Lightning II aircraft. Northrop Grumman, a principal subcontractor to F-35 prime contractor Lockheed Martin, is responsible for producing the center fuselage for all three F-35 variants. TAI’s new ACMF, which has an expected service life of more than 25 years, will provide the following capabilities: --Composite and metal bonding techniques using advanced technology. --High precision advanced technology composites part production, high level digital integration between design and production. --Fiber placement techniques with precision automatic machining for sophisticated structures. --High standard production and quality applications required for 5th generation fighter aircraft. (ends) Turkish F-35 Supplier to Northrop Grumman Opens New Composites Factory EL SEGUNDO, California --- Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc. (TAI), Ankara, Turkey, a major international supplier to Northrop Grumman Corporation on the F-35 Lightning II program, today opened a new facility dedicated to producing composite subassemblies for the new international, multi-role fighter. The opening of the 74 thousand square foot facility represents TAI's latest progress towards becoming a second source producer of F-35 center fuselages for Northrop Grumman. Under a Letter of Intent signed with Northrop Grumman in Feb. 2007, TAI plans to produce and assemble at least 400 center fuselages beginning in the low rate initial production (LRIP) phases of the program. "This composites facility represents a significant investment by Turkish Aerospace Industries in the long-term success and affordability of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program," said Mark A. Tucker, vice president of tactical systems and F-35 program manager for Northrop Grumman's Integrated Systems sector, who spoke at TAI's opening ceremony. "It will give the company a state-of-the-art capability to fabricate high-precision composite parts." Northrop Grumman, a principal and founding member of the Lockheed Martin-led F-35 Lightning II team, is responsible for the design and production of center fuselages for all three variants of F-35 aircraft: conventional take-off and landing; short take-off, vertical landing; and carrier-compatible. The F-35 Lightning II program expects to build more than 3,000 aircraft. "TAI's investments in designing and constructing this new factory reflect the international spirit of collaboration that's helping the F-35 industry team successfully produce, deliver and sustain the world's most advanced multi-role combat aircraft," said Tom Burbage, executive vice president and general manager, F-35 program integration for the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company. "This new facility adds momentum to the program's transition from the system development and demonstration phase to the production phase." The opening of the new facility follows an authorization by Northrop Grumman in Dec. 2007 for TAI to begin fabricating F-35 composite subassemblies. Those subassemblies will be used in center fuselages assembled by Northrop Grumman during LRIP-1 at its F-35 assembly facility in Palmdale, Calif. As a member of the F-35 global industry team, Northrop Grumman plays a critical role in the development and production of the weapons system. The company's main areas of involvement include: producing and integrating the aircraft's center fuselage; producing the radar and other key avionics including electro-optical and communications subsystems; developing mission systems and mission-planning software; developing pilot and maintenance training system courseware; and developing logistic support hardware and software. Northrop Grumman Corporation is a global defense and technology company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in information and services, electronics, aerospace and shipbuilding to government and commercial customers worldwide.