Australian aerospace composite business Quickstep (ASX:QHL) has received a purchase order for Lot 17 F-35 vertical tail components valued at $11.3 million.
The company says the order will be delivered in financial year 2024 and 2025 from its facility in the Sydney suburb of Bankstown. The order was received from global precision engineered solutions company Marand Precision Engineering, which Quickstep notes is a longstanding partner on the F-35 program.
“It is a great testament to the quality and delivery performance of our aerostructures business”
Commenting on the purchase order, Quickstep Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director Mark Burgess said: “Following our multi-year award announcement on 25 August 2022, this additional order means our F-35 vertical tail production is also underpinned by firm contracts through FY25 (financial year 2025).
It is a great testament to the quality and delivery performance of our aerostructures business, especially in a challenging operating environment, that we have secured this follow-on work.
We are proud to support this important international program and continue to explore opportunities for additional volume.”
The vertical tail components sourced will be used in Lockheed Martin F-35 combat aircrafts utilised by armies in the US, Australia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Norway, and the Netherlands.
Quickstep is an Australian independent aerospace composite business with facilities in Sydney, Geelong, Melbourne, and Dallas, Texas. The company specialises in manufacturing carbon fibre and composites for use in commercial or defence aerospace applications.
Quickstep also wholly-owns its subsidiary Quickstep Aftermarket Services which repairs components on defence aircrafts manufactured by Boeing, Airbus, Embraer, and Bombardier.
