Australia Awards First Grant Under F-35 Industry Support Program

Lovitt Technologies, a Melbourne company will use a $1.5 million Australian Government grant to buy a next generation machining centre to secure more work on the global F-35 Program.

The company will also use the grant to train staff and upgrade equipment and software.

A machining centre is an advanced, fast, computer-controlled machine that can perform multiple operations like milling, boring and drilling.

Lovitt Technologies is the first recipient of Defence’s Joint Strike Fighter Industry Support Program - Production and Modernisation Grant, which provides local companies up to 50% of the money they need to develop new or improved capabilities to secure work from the lucrative program.

More than 70 Australian companies have already benefitted from over $3.7 billion in global F-35 production and sustainment contracts.

Australia plans to have 72 fifth-generation, F-35A Lightning II aircraft combining air-to-air, strike and ground attack capabilities.

The grant scheme will introduce a new capability to Australia to manufacture larger and more complex components for the F-35 Program, which will also benefit other Defence programs.