F-35A gets first Italian-made wing-set

 

Fort Worth, Texas – The first F-35A wing-set produced by Italy’s Finmeccanica-Alenia Aermacchi has entered the F-35 production line in Fort Worth, marking a milestone for the Lockheed Martin - Alenia Aermacchi collaboration on the program.

 

Finmeccanica-Alenia Aermacchi produced the full wing-set at the F-35 final assembly & check-out (FACO) facility in Cameri, Italy. The entry into the electronic mate and assembly (EMAS) – where the forward fuselage, wing-set, and aft fuselage are joined, is an important production milestone for Finmeccanica-Alenia Aermacchi’s F-35 program, exhibiting high performance on a vital part of the aircraft while demonstrating the key involvement of the Italian aerospace industry.

 

The work contracted to Finmeccanica-Alenia Aermacchi, a strategic co-supplier of F-35A full wing assemblies, is one of the largest manufacturing projects for the Italian F-35 program, with 835 full wing assemblies planned. The Cameri FACO is owned by the Italian government and operated by Finmeccanica-Alenia Aermacchi in association with Lockheed Martin. The Cameri FACO’s F-35 production operations began in July 2013 and rolled out Italy’s first F-35A aircraft, AL-1, in March, 2015; its first flight anticipated there later this year. The FACO will assemble both Italy’s F-35A conventional takeoff and landing variants and F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing variants, and is scheduled to assemble the Netherlands’ F-35A aircraft in the future. The F-35s will replace Italian Air Force and Italian Navy AV-8 Harriers, Panavia Tornados, and AMX fighters.

 

“From the beginning of the program, Italian industry has influenced the aircraft's design and capabilities. Italian-made parts and components are installed in every F-35 produced,” said Jack Crisler, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Business Development vice president. “Italian industry will support the F-35 for more than 30 years, from production of parts and final assembly of aircraft to replacement parts and regional sustainment work.”

 

F-35A aircraft AF-88, with the Alenia Aermacchi wing-set, will be operated by the U.S. Air Force at Nellis AFB, Nevada, upon delivery.

 

More than 115 production F-35s have been delivered to customers and have flown more than 33,000 flight hours, fleet-wide.