BAE Systems wins contract for F-35 Project from Australia

BAE Systems and Marand, a precision engineering company from the State of Victoria, signed a long-term agreement today on the supply of vertical tails for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter -- the largest, highest-value package of industrial work on the F-35 program in Australia. The agreement is worth A$790 million of high-technology export business for the aerospace industry in Australia over the life of the program, with subsequent contracts being let yearly. BAE Systems Australia will machine the vertical tail titanium components in Adelaide. Marand will be the in-country lead for the manufacture of the 722 vertical tail fins and will undertake final assembly of the titanium parts. BAE Systems Group Managing Director - International Guy Griffiths said: "The BAE Systems team and Marand have worked together successfully on the F-35 for the past four years including the last 18 months on the vertical tails.