GE Aerospace has entered into a service agreement to provide avionics and power systems for the F-35, according to an announcement made on 19 April.
Chris Newman, F-35 senior programme manager at GE Aerospace, stressed the importance of ensuring reliability and mission readiness of the aircraft, especially as the F-35 fleet continues to expand.
Under the newly signed four-year agreement, GE Aerospace will be responsible for maintaining, repairing, and overhauling the F-35 aircraft.
The company will provide these services at various locations in California, Georgia, Utah, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Long Island, New York, and Cheltenham, UK. GE Aerospace has been a strong supporter of the F-35 programme since its inception, providing a range of critical systems such as electrical power management, aircraft memory, and missile remote interface.
The company reported a strong financial quarter with growth in both Commercial Services and Equipment revenue and Military revenue. However, the US Department of Defense rejected the GE Aerospace XA100 adaptive engine being considered for the F-35 a month prior to the announcement.