OREANDA-NEWS. Lightweight metals leader Alcoa (NYSE: AA) today announced a contract to supply titanium for Lockheed Martin’s (NYSE: LMT) F-35 Lightning II aircraft program, also known as the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). Under the contract, Alcoa becomes the titanium supplier for airframe structures for all three variants of the F-35 over nine years, from 2016 to 2024. At current projected build rates, the contract has an estimated value of approximately $1.1 billion.

Alcoa will supply titanium plate and billet from several operations gained through the RTI International Metals acquisition.

“Through our expansion in titanium, Alcoa is sharpening its leadership edge on state-of-the-art aircraft, including the most advanced fighter jet in the world—the F-35,” said Alcoa Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Klaus Kleinfeld. “We are expanding Alcoa’s range of multi-material offerings for this program while helping Lockheed Martin meet aggressive weight, range and fuel efficiency targets.”

The titanium will be used to manufacture airframe structures for all three F-35 JSF variants: The F-35A Conventional Takeoff and Landing (CTOL) aircraft, the F-35B Short Takeoff/Vertical Landing (STOVL) aircraft and the F-35C Carrier Variant (CV). Under a different existing contract, Alcoa will use the metal to forge all of the largest titanium bulkheads—the “backbone” of the aircraft structure—for the CTOL variant at its Cleveland, Ohio operations. Approximately 75 percent of all F-35s produced are CTOLs.

“This contract with Alcoa is a key element in securing our supply chain with a strong U.S. partner for a critical, strategic raw material," said Dan Pleshko, vice president of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics’ Enterprise Supply Chain Management.

In addition to the forged titanium bulkheads, Alcoa already supplies several key, multi-material components for the F-35, including:

  • Multiple structural aircraft body components including the largest forged aluminum bulkheads, which Alcoa manufactures in one piece—as opposed to multi-piece assemblies—saving 300-400 pounds per jet, helping Lockheed Martin meet aggressive weight, range and fuel efficiency targets and reduce machining and assembly time;
  • Advanced aluminum die forgings for the critical wheel and braking systems;
  • Fasteners and installation tooling that hold the aircraft together, which can be easily installed in the most hard-to-reach areas—important given the complex design and performance requirements of the aircraft;
  • Machined aluminum and titanium “vane box” assemblies that direct air flow, enabling the vertical landing capabilities of the STOVL; and
  • Several high-performance components for the F-135 engine, including seamless rolled rings that encase the engine parts, titanium forged disks, and advanced single-crystal, nickel superalloy blades and vanes that enable the engine to operate at temperatures hotter than the melting point of the superalloys, increasing fuel efficiency.

The F-35 Lightning II is an advanced fighter aircraft combining stealth, speed and agility, designed for many kinds of missions. Lockheed Martin’s full-rate production goal is 13 aircraft a month by the mid-2020s, up from an average of three aircraft delivered per month in 2014.

Alcoa has been growing its multi-material aerospace business to capture growth in the global aerospace market in support of its broader transformation. Alcoa recently acquired global titanium leader RTI International Metals, aerospace components manufacturer TITAL and global jet engine parts leader Firth Rixson. Alcoa also has grown organically. It opened the world’s largest aluminum-lithium facility in Lafayette, Indiana, launched expansions to increase jet engine parts production in La Porte, Indiana and Hampton, Virginia, began installation of advanced aerospace plate manufacturing capabilities in Davenport, Iowa, announced plans to double its coatings capabilities for jet engine components in Whitehall, Michigan and announced an investment in technology that strengthens the metallic structures of traditional and additive manufactured parts, also in Whitehall, Michigan.

About Alcoa

A global leader in lightweight metals technology, engineering and manufacturing, Alcoa innovates multi-material solutions that advance our world. Our technologies enhance transportation, from automotive and commercial transport to air and space travel, and improve industrial and consumer electronics products. We enable smart buildings, sustainable food and beverage packaging, high-performance defense vehicles across air, land and sea, deeper oil and gas drilling and more efficient power generation. We pioneered the aluminum industry over 125 years ago, and today, our more than 60,000 people in 30 countries deliver value-add products made of titanium, nickel and aluminum, and produce best-in-class bauxite, alumina and primary aluminum products. 

In addition to the F-35, Alcoa has been a partner and supplier to the military for decades, enabling high-performance defense vehicles across air, land and sea. 

About Lockheed Martin

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 112,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation’s net sales for 2014 were $45.6 billion.