Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne has officially opened Marand Precision Engineering’s new manufacturing facility in Victoria.
Located in Moorabbin, the facility will manufacture vertical tails for the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fighter aircraft which was designed to perform ground attack and air superiority missions.
Speaking at the official launch ceremony, Mr Pyne said the new facility will create an additional 44 full time positions, with flow on effects across the supply chain.
“Marand is now an established supplier of F-35A Vertical Tails, with Australian-produced tails on the aircraft of several F-35 Partner Nations,” Mr Pyne said.
“Expected to generate a total of more than $1 billion in revenue over 20 years, Marand is a great example of the success Australian industry is experiencing through the global F-35 Program.”
“By December 2016, Marand had received one third of the Australian contracts in the F-35 Program and continues to grow this market share, displaying how Australia’s innovative defence industry is proving its global competitiveness.”
Marand, which currently employ around 240 people around Australia, signed a long-term agreement with BAE Systems UK in 2011 for the manufacture of Vertical Tails for the international Conventional Take-Off and Landing variant of the F-35.
In mid-2017, the third Australian F-35A aircraft received its Australian-made, Marand-produced Vertical Tail as production of the aircraft neared completion.
