IAI delivers first sets of F-16 aerostructures
IAI and Lockheed Martin marked the occasion of the first set of F-16 aerostructures being delivered. (Photo: IAI)
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has delivered the first sets of F-16 aerostructures manufactured at the company’s reopened assembly line, with components handed over to Lockheed Martin at a ceremony to mark the occasion.
Components handed over include conformal fuel tanks.
In a 12 June statement, IAI added that it had delivered its 200th F-35 fighter aircraft wing set to Lockheed Martin.
‘IAI is scheduled to produce a total of 811 pairs of F-35A wings, with a potential value of over $2 billion by 2034, following a contract signed in 2011,’ the manufacturer noted.
‘IAI is operating a state-of-the-art F-35 wing production line, inaugurated in 2014, while continuously investing in automated systems, advanced infrastructures and technologies necessary to meet the aircraft’s innovative design.
‘The wings’ upper and lower skins are made of composite materials, unique to the F-35, also made by IAI as part of the production contracts.’
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Defence Notes
-
“Capital follows confidence” as defence courts private money
Outside investment and the direction in which venture money flows may reveal what defence will buy years before formal programmes begin.
-
Canada’s new military drone marketplace targets rapid acquisition pipeline
The Department of National Defence expects initial contracts to deliver thousands of uncrewed systems, but has yet to establish the quantities, capability mix or deadline behind Ottawa’s promised tenfold expansion.
-
Ukraine turns legacy Kongsberg land turrets into semi-autonomous USV weapons
The company told Shephard that Ukraine is operating modified Protector weapon stations originally supplied for armoured vehicles, with human operators authorising engagements from hundreds of kilometres away.
-
Thales: deployment speed to determine winners in ‘production versus production’ era
At its technology summit in London, attended by Shephard, Thales UK examined the importance of speed to delivery, the growing focus on cross-domain capabilities and how procurement reform could be crucial for future battlefield advantage.
-
Orchestrating operational readiness across every defence domain
Are all systems ready for the next mission? Have upgrades been applied? Are all assets aligned to deploy together, on time and fully prepared? In modern defence operations, readiness is no longer measured platform by platform. It is measured by how well people, assets, data and decisions move together — across land, sea and air.