BAE Systems Taps Australia for Titanium Component of F-35 Jet

Aircraft manufacturer BAE Systems will taps its Australian unit to put in place an aerospace component manufacturing operation in Adelaide which would produce titanium parts for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).

The fighter jet, which is being developed in the U.S., will have titanium parts for its vertical tail fin.

The JSF programme is expected to manufacture over 3,000 aircraft in the next five years for the U.S. and other countries. The South Australian (SA) government is supporting BAE Systems Australia's new manufacturing operations expected to be worth $177 million.

As part of the SA support, Premier Jay Weatherill is in Fort Worth, Texas to visit the JSF production plant. He said with the facility to rise in the state, SA will have defence as the foundation of its manufacturing sector which would also generate jobs for highly skilled residents.

The premier added that the new capabilities open more opportunities in aerospace, commercial and defence projects.

To complement the BAE System Australia operations, Rosebank Engineering would put up a specialised metal finishing facility in Adelaide, said SA Defence Industries Minister Jack Snelling. The minister said that the combined capability currently does not exist in Australia.

Mr Snelling added that the establishment of such a capability in Adelaide would provide long-term growth and job security in SA.

The BAE plant will produce thin-wall aerospace components and the Rosebank operation will perform metal finishing processes. The two facilities would be built in Edinburgh Parks.

Besides aircraft, BAE Systems is also a leading provider of soldier protective and load carrying equipment in the U.S. It produces a significant portion of the U.S.'s body armour, tactical vests, combat helmets and load-carrying systems.

Last week, BAE Systems in Phoenix, Arizona received a $15.8-million award from the U.S. Army to produce side ballistic insert plates. The XSBI hard body armour is worn inside a soldier's vest as protection against different ballistic threats. It is worn on both sides of the torso.

BAE Systems has presence in Australia, India, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and U.S. It has customers and partners in over 100 countries.