The UK’s role as a leading partner on the global F-35 programme has received another significant boost as the F-35 avionic and aircraft component repair hub in North Wales was awarded a second major assignment of work worth some £500M by the US Department of Defense.
Following the announcement in 2016 that the UK would be the location of the global repair hub for the initial tranche of F-35 components, news of this award sees significantly more UK support work to the cutting-edge jets.
This latest deal will support hundreds of additional F-35 jobs in the UK – many of them at the MOD’s Defence & Electronics Components Agency (DECA) at MOD Sealand, where the majority of the work will be carried out.
It will see essential maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrade services for an even wider range of F-35 avionic, electronic and electrical systems for hundreds of F-35 aircraft based globally.
The winning solution builds on the innovative joint venture formed between the MOD (DECA), BAE Systems and Northrop Grumman called Sealand Support Services Ltd (SSSL). SSSL support work and services for F-35 are scheduled to commence from 2020.
Sir Simon Bollom, CEO of the MOD’s procurement agency, Defence Equipment and Support, said: “In winning this work, the UK has demonstrated how the MOD can collaborate effectively with industry bringing together a highly skilled and experienced workforce to offer an innovative and best value support solution for the benefit of F-35 partners.
“The UK also benefits from a long-term commitment to the F-35 programme and its unique defence relationship with the US. Together with our partners from DECA, BAE Systems and Northrop Grumman, SSSL will be able to offer the F-35 programme engineering excellence, world-class innovation and agility.”
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DECA Defence Electronics & Components Agency F-35 US Department of Defense
Post written by: Matt Brown
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