Northrop Grumman Corporation, a major developer and producer of the U.S. Military’s F-35 weapons system, selected Tulsa-based company NORDAM to manufacture major structural components for the F-35 center fuselage. As a supplier to Northrop Grumman, NORDAM will produce three of the aircraft’s internal parts made entirely from composite materials. Additionally, In addition, NORDAM’s Nacelle & Thrust Reverser Systems (NTR) division will supply Northrop Grumman up to 35 ship-sets per year for six years.
“Assembly of the center fuselage begins with the parts that NORDAM will manufacture,” said Meredith Siegfried Madden, NORDAM’s CEO. “There was a lot of competition for this contract, but among other factors, our many years of experience in composites and complex bondment and layup, coupled with our niche expertise in automated fiber placement (AFP) processing, secured the deal.”
In addition to producing the jet’s center fuselage, Northrop Grumman produces the F-35’s radar, electro-optical, avionics and communications subsystems.
