Article Posted on : - Oct 10, 2013

F-35 Lightning II. Photo: Lockheed Martin by Todd McQueen

FORT WORTH, TEXAS (BNS): Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) first F-35 Lightning II designated as AU-1 has officially begun the mate process, where major components of the aircraft are joined together to form the aircraft's structure.

AU-1 will then make its way down the assembly line and roll out of the factory for delivery to the RAAF in the summer of 2014, according to its manufacturer Lockheed Martin.

The global supply chain for the F-35 currently has 14 Australian companies under contract and building parts for the F-35.

Australian industry is expected to gain up to $6.3 billion USD in industry opportunities over the life of the F-35 programme. Every F-35 built will have some Australian parts and components.

The RAAF and Lockheed Martin on Monday celebrated the beginnings of the first F-35 Lightning II for Australia.

The occasion also marked a longstanding history between Lockheed Martin and Australia's Defence Forces, beginning with the Lockheed Vega, F-111 and continuing with the F-35.

Australia's first two F-35s, now in production, will be delivered to the RAAF next year.

The F-35 Lightning II is a 5th generation fighter, combining advanced stealth with fighter speed and agility, advanced mission systems, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations and cutting-edge sustainment.

Three distinct variants of the F-35 will replace the A-10 and F-16 for the U S Air Force, the F/A-18 for the U S Navy, the F/A-18 and AV-8B Harrier for the U S Marine Corps, and a variety of fighters for at least 10 other countries.