Aviation Week Market Supplement September 10, 2007

BAE SYSTEMS A PROGRAM LEADER ON THE F-35 As one of the three lead partners on the F-35 Lightning II, BAE Systems is responsible for critical design and production elements of the F-35 and brings unique Stovl expertise to the program. The aft fuselage and empennage (vertical and horizontal tails) for each F-35 are being designed, engineered and built by BAE Systems’ Military Air Solutions business in the U.K., using the latest digital-design and precision-manufacturing techniques pioneered by the company. BAE Systems is the system design and development lead for the fuel, crew escape and life support systems; it also leads activities associated with CVF integration support and has key roles within mission systems, flight sciences and autonomic logistics. BAE Systems also is a key partner in the global sustainment phase of the program and will lead the support activity in the U.K on behalf of the F-35 team. www.baesystems.com. I EDO CORP. A KEY F-35 SUPPLIER EDO Corp., headquartered in New York City, is developing the missile ejection system and pneumatic bomb racks for the F-35. The company also is known as the supplier of electronic countermeasures to jam the radio signals used by insurgents to detonate roadside bombs in Iraq. In addition, EDO provides weapons-release systems for the most advanced fighters, including the Lockheed Martin F-22. Founded in 1925, EDO designs and manufactures a range of products for defense, intelligence, and commercial markets, and provides related engineering and professional services. EDO’s six market sectors are integrated systems and structures, undersea warfare, professional and engineering services, C4 (command, control, communications and computers), electronic warfare, and intelligence and information warfare. The corporation employs approximately 4,000 people worldwide and had revenues of $715 million in 2006. www.edocorp.com I F-35: THE WORLD’S FIRST TRULY GLOBAL WEAPON SYSTEM ALLIANCE sion making is the key lesson he learned through the F-35. There can be no confusion when change is required or when there is a need to focus on current priorities, despite outside pressures. Smiths Aerospace (now known as the Systems Div. of GE Aviation) has a range of products and systems on the aircraft, from the canopy frame assembly (which is performed in Southampton, England) to actuation systems for the propulsion sys- “The digital thread revolutionized our development and manufacturing processes,” Burbage says. The team chose TeamCenter from UGS PLM Software as the coalition’s core data system. A variety of supporting IT products also are used, including Catia for design. The goal was to use off-the-shelf products and avoid customized solutions. Deviations from a common standard were viewed as time/dollar costs that would create additional com- Using real-time technologies and shared data enabled Australia’s GKN Aerospace to support Northrop Grumman’s design and integration efforts. tem and airframe (which are built in New Jersey, Washington state and Wolverhampton, England). “We’ve had closer liaison with the end customer—the joint program office,” says Paul Daffurn, program manager for the remote input/output data contractor units. On future global aerospace coalitions, Daffurn would recommend locating the design team closer to the customer. The digital thread that links the program—moving, sharing at the appropriate level, analyzing and retaining all the F-35’s data—is no substitute for the relationshipbuilding common to most domestic or regional programs. Both are essential to a successful project. plexity that would have to be absorbed across the supply chain. Dan Crowley, executive vice president and F-35 program manager, agrees. “Clearly, our IPT structure, linked using common design tools and product data management software, has made it possible to design the development aircraft and support systems across 18 time zones with production-like quality.” That’s not to say adjustments to the digital thread weren’t needed. ITAR compliance was among the reasons for tweaking. Early in the program, international suppliers submitted design data to a U.S.based team member that had authorized access, and then uploaded the suppliers’ www.aviationweek.com/awst S8 AVIATION WEEK & SPACE TECHNOLOGY MARKET SUPPLEMENT/SEPTEMBER 10, 2007 http://www.baesystems.com http://www.edocorp.com http://www.aviationweek.com/awst

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