Fokker Technologies has again struck a deal with Northrop Grumman Corporation for the delivery of in-flight opening doors for the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II combat aircraft, it has emerged. The agreement was signed during yesterday’s NIDV exhibition that was held in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Valued at around €100 million, the contract is for doors and hatches for F-35 aircraft that are to be built as part of low rate initial production (LRIP) lots 10 and 11. The latest agreement builds on previous arrangements with Northrop Grumman under which Fokker Technologies delivered in-flight opening doors for previous LRIP lots.
Fokker Technologies, a division of GKN Aerospace that is headquartered in Papendrecht, the Netherlands, also announced on Thursday that it had won a follow on development contract for the F-35 landing gear composite drag brace programme. Under the contract that was awarded by United Technologies Aerospace Systems, the F-35’s landing gear supplier, Fokker Technologies will continue the design and development of a polymer matrix composite (PMC) landing gear drag brace that could be incorporated into the main landing gear of the F-35A CTOL and F-35B STOV/L variants of Lockheed Martin’s Lighting II fighter aircraft. Compared to the metallic brace equivalent, the new brace will result in reduced weight and lower life cycle costs, according to Fokker.
In addition to in-flight opening doors and arresting gear, Fokker Technologies also delivers flaperons, titanium engine parts, wiring and inter connection systems for the multinational F-35 programme.
Pieter Bastiaans