JSF/ F35

JSF CENTER FUSELAGE:

Under the JSF Program, a Letter of Intent (LOI) was signed between TAI and Northrop Grumman ISS (NGISS) International on 6 February 2007. With the LOI, TAI becomes the second source for the F-35 Lightning II Center Fuselage.

Northrop Grumman, a principal member of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lighting II Team, is responsible for designing and manufacturing of the center fuselage for F-35 aircraft. The number of center fuselages to be produced by TAI will be determined depending on the number of F-35s Turkey will procure and the number of F-35s to be produced worldwide. The LOI represents a potential value in excess of $3 billion.

Under the F-35 center fuselage production program, TAI will gain the following technological capabilities:

* High precision advanced technology composite part production, high level digital integration between design and production period,
* Robotic controlled drilling, cutting and integration processes,
* Fiber placement techniques with automatic machining for sophisticated structures,
* Composite and metal bonding techniques by using high technology,
* Robotic controlled precise coating and painting applications,
* High standard quality applications required for 5th generation fighter aircraft.

With the LOI, a strong strategic cooperation, which will last at least for 20 years, will be established between TAI and Northrop Grumman. This cooperation, to be initiated with Northrop Grumman, the prime contractor of the center fuselage of the F-35 Lightning II aircraft, is expected to be a long lasting and fruitful relationship that will lead to future programs.

The infrastructural investments that are being made at TAI for the JSF center fuselage production program, is believed to make TAI one of the few aerospace companies that have such capabilities.

Chosen for its best-value approach, TAI exemplifies the objective of Northrop Grumman and the entire F-35 team to bring unprecedented and innovative technologies to the armed forces. With the initiation of the production of the F-35 center fuselage at TAI’s facilities, TAI aims to become a worldwide center of excellence by upgrading its existing technology for the production of 5th generation combat aircraft.

JSF PYLON:

Under the System Development and Demonstration (SDD) Phase of JSF program, a Cooperation Agreement, regarding the manufacturing of air-to-ground pylon and realization of Qualification Fatigue Tests at TAI facilities, was signed with Marvin Engineering (MEC) Company, the prime contractor of F-35 aircraft pylon manufacturing and production on 5 July 2006.

Within the framework of the agreement, production of pylons and fuel tank adapters, which are necessary for the assembly of fuel tank on the pylon, as well as fatigue tests will be realized by TAI.