BAE Systems F-35 Lightning II Component Production (Aft Fuselage and Empennage)
Samlesbury, Lancashire, UK · 2006-ongoing (production of components started, with key milestones like 1000th fuselage in 2023) · Over $6.7 billion (contracts for F-35 components for UK manufacturers); £150 million (investment in extended factory, 2012 prices)
The judgement call
Account-gated at launchBAE Systems' role as a Tier 1 partner highlights the UK's critical contribution to the F-35 program and its advanced manufacturing capabilities. - The investment in automated production facilities demonstrates a commitment to efficiency and cost reduction in defense manufacturing. - Achieving milestones like the 1000th rear fuselage delivery showcases sustained production success and reliability. - The F-35 program represents a significant, complex, and expensive defense procurement, emphasizing the importance of international collaboration and industrial participation.
Key engineering challenges
Designing and manufacturing complex, stealthy aft fuselage and empennage sections for a fifth-generation fighter aircraft. - Implementing advanced manufacturing techniques and automation to achieve high-volume, high-precision production. - Managing the integration of UK-produced components into a global supply chain for the F-35 program. - Ensuring the components meet stringent military specifications and stealth requirements.
Project facts
- Client / owner
- Lockheed Martin (prime contractor for F-35 program); UK Ministry of Defence
- Lead contractor
- BAE Systems
- Lead designers
- BAE Systems (responsible for design of aft fuselage and empennage)
- Project type
- manufacturing
- Scale
- BAE Systems delivers almost 15% of each F-35 aircraft; delivered 1000th rear fuselage by 2023; facility designed for automated one-a-day production of parts.
- Disciplines
- aeronautical engineering; manufacturing engineering; systems engineering; materials science (composites); automation
- Standards & frameworks
- Military aviation standards; DEF STAN; AS9100 quality management system.
Sources: BAE Systems: F-35 Lightning II (https://www.baesystems.com/en-us/product/f-35-lightning-ii---programme-overview) - F-35.com: F-35 Partners (https://www.f35.com/f35/about/F-35-Partners.html) - BAE Systems: BAE Systems achieves major milestone for world's largest defence programme (https://www.baesystems.com/en/article/bae-systems-achieves-major-milestone-for-world-s-largest-defence-programme) - The Engineer: BAE Systems looks to speed up F-35 production with facility (https://www.theengineer.co.uk/content/news/bae-systems-looks-to-speed-up-f-35-production-with-facility) - CAAT: MAPPED: The UK companies arming Israel, including BAE Systems (https://caat.org.uk/data/countries/israel/mapped-all-the-uk-companies-manufacturing-components-for-israels-f35-combat-aircraft/)