BAE Systems has signed a $200m contract with GKN Aerospace, for the supply of composite and metallic structures for the multination joint strike fighter (JSF) programme.
Under the contract, GKN will perform fuselage work on all three variants of the F-35 Lightning II fighter, according to Defense News.
The contract will be the first major package of JSF work awarded to GKN’s UK facilities and will earn them around $2.5m for each aircraft.
GKN will manufacture the composite fuselage parts at its facility on the Isle of Wight, UK, and supply them to BAE.
The company will undertake the titanium metal structure machining work at its facilities in Filton and St Louis in the US.
Under the JSF programme, GKN has already supplied transparent canopies, titanium and composite structures for the airframe and engine, and an electro-thermal ice protection system for the powerplant.
The JSF is a development and acquisition programme to replace a wide range of aging fighter, strike, and ground attack aircraft for the US and its allies.
The nine partner nations in the JSF programme include the US, the UK, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Denmark, Norway and Australia.
