Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) has delivered its first F-35 centre fuselage to Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin at a ceremony held at TAI’s facilities in Ankara, Turkey. It is the first F-35 centre fuselage manufactured by TAI as an international manufacturing partner and subcontractor to Northrop Grumman on the F-35 program.
This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.
To unlock all Australian Aviation magazine content and again unlimited access to our daily news and features, become a member today!
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.
PRINT
See benefits
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
MOST POPULAR
PRINT + DIGITAL
See benefits
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
DIGITAL
See benefits
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
The centre fuselage will be installed into a US Air Force aircraft at Lockheed Martin’s facilities in Fort Worth, Texas.
Once the program reaches full rate production, TAI will support F-35 final assembly lines in the United States and Italy by shipping one centre fuselage every 10 days. TAI’s centre fuselages will be integrated into the Turkish F-35 aircraft as well as other participating nations’ aircraft.
In addition, TAI is the sole source for centre fuselage metallic assemblies for the F-35A, selected composite components for all F-35 variants, and is one of two sources for composite air inlet ducts for F-35A, and air-to-ground alternate mission pylons for all F-35 variants.