The global security and aerospace company will continue to source materials for its F-35 aircraft from Solvay, after signing a new five-year contract with the firm.
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Technology firm Solvay has announced it has secured a new five-year material supply contract for Lockheed Martin’s F-35 aircraft.
Since partnering with Lockheed Martin, Solvay has supported the manufacturing and delivery of over 550 aircraft operating in nine countries, supplying more than 50 products to the F-35 program.
Solvay’s products include structural composites such as CYCOM 5250-4, a bismaleimide (BMI) prepreg system designed for performance-enhancing capability at high temperatures, and CYCOM 977-3, a toughened epoxy resin prepreg system.
Following the announcement of the contract extension, Carmelo Lo Faro, president of Solvay composite materials global business unit, commented, “It is a privilege to be the principal supplier of structural composites and adhesives to Lockheed Martin multinational F-35 program.
"This contract extension builds not only on our F-35 program commitment, but also the partnership Solvay and Lockheed Martin have shared for more than 30 years and our ability to innovate together.”
The F-35 program delivers a multi-role fighter platform for the US Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy; and constitutes the largest global defence program in history.
The Royal Australian Air Force also operates more than 340 F-35s with partner nations, with the fleet surpassing more than 170,000 cumulative flight hours.
Earlier this month, the RAAF formally accepted its 30th F-35A Joint Strike Fighter from Lockheed Martin.
Over the coming years, Australia is set to purchase 72 F-35s as part of the $17 billion AIR 6000 Phase 2A/B program – aimed at replacing the ageing F/A-18A/B Classic Hornets that have been in service with the RAAF since 1985.
[Related: RAAF officially accepts 30th F-35 Joint Strike Fighter]