Who Arms Israel?
Where are goods for the Israeli military made? And where are they transported from?
The main countries involved in supplying arms and military goods to Israel are the US, Germany, Italy and the UK. This document outlines sites connected to production for the Israeli military in different countries and, where possible, identifies where military goods are transported from.
We aim to provide a resource for actions that target the production or transport of military goods, or disrupt the activity of Israel’s military suppliers, and also to link resources that can be used to take action in particular countries.
Our research identifies companies that produce some of the arms most fundamental to the Israeli military, including Lockheed Martin (prime contractor for the F35 fighter jet), Boeing (manufacturer for many of the guided weapons used by the Israeli military), BAE Systems (a leading supplier for the F35), Leonardo (part of the F35 coalition) and Raytheon (manufacturer of the Paveway guided bomb).
Action is possible in different forms – while we identify sites of direct production for the Israeli military, it is also possible to target multinational companies that produce for Israel even if military goods are made at another site. Likewise, it is possible to target companies involved in the transportation of military goods to Israel.
Arms production is highly international and many of the most traceable supply chains are for goods such as fighter jets made by international coalitions. These aircraft are central to the current war and bombardment of Gaza – Israel is using “every combat aircraft at its disposal” , including F15s, F16s, F35s and AH-64 Apache helicopters. There are 408 links in the supply chain for the F35, for example: see a list of companies involved here.
Inevitably, supply chains are much more complex than this document can account for and many smaller companies are involved. If you use this document as a starting point, you may be able to identify more detailed supply chains to disrupt.
The USA
Arms Production for Israel in the US
The USA is Israel’s largest weapons supplier, supplying over 90 per cent of its arms imports. The USA gives Israel almost $4bn in military aid annually, “including about $500mn for air and missile defences.” Israel also spends heavily on US weapons, having purchased roughly $53.5bn of military goods from the US over the past seven decades according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, including $6.5bn in the five years to 2022. Israel has made some of these purchases using military aid received from the US. For a list of all arms export licenses agreed through the US Foreign Military Sales Programme, including the primary contractors and sites, see here (NB: not all of these agreements have resulted in exports).
The biggest US arms companies are Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Boeing, Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics. These companies are international and have subsidiaries overseas.
Some of the most significant weapons made in the US for Israel include:
The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter
Israel has bought 50 F35 fighter jets, and taken delivery of 36 by the end of 2022. They are based at the Nevatim Air Base in southern Israel. In 2021, the IOF said that it had used F35s in combat for the first time in Gaza. The F-35 is an international collaboration - see other country profiles for examples of where F35 parts are made. Israel has also developed its own technologies for modifying some elements of the F-35.
US manufacturing locations (the F35 supply chain in the US is highly extensive and can be traced in more detail here):
- F-35s are assembled at Air Force Plant 4 – which is owned by the US government and operated by Lockheed Martin – at Fort Worth, Texas.
- The engines are made by Pratt & Whitney in East Hartford and Middletown, Connecticut.
- The electronic systems are made by BAE Systems in Nashua, New Hampshire and Endicott, New York.
- Control Actuation Systems which help the F35 launch guided weapons are made by Woodward Inc in Santa Clarita, California.
F-15 and F-16 fighter aircraft
Israel is currently negotiating orders for the F15EX fighter jet through the US Foreign Military Sales Programme. According to reporting on the process, Israel’s formal request makes delivery likely by 2028. US manufacturing sites for the F15 and F16 include the following (while the original sales of F15s and F16s – other than the F15EX model – have already taken place, there is a continual supply of spare parts especially during war).
- The F15EXs are produced at the Boeing plant in St Louis, Missouri.
- F16s are made by Lockheed Martin in Greenville, South Carolina.
- In some variants of the F16, the avionics are replaced with Israeli-made ones from companies like Elbit and Israel Aerospace Industries, and with missiles from Rafael - three major Israeli arms companies.
Military helicopters
US manufacturing sites for military helicopters used by the IOF include:
- CH-53K heavy-lift helicopters, seen to be used in the current assault, are made by Lockheed Martin Global, Inc. in Shelton, Connecticut; and General Electric in Lynn, Massachusetts.
- Apache helicopters are made by Boeing in Mesa, Arizona
- AW119Kx helicopters are made by Leonardo in Philadelphia.
Refuelling aircraft
- KC-46A Aerial Refueling Aircraft, made by Boeing in Everett, WA; the MAGR 2K GPS receiver is made by Raytheon in Waltham, MA.
Guided bombs used by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF)
The guided bombs used by the IOF are predominantly made in the US and Israel. The following bombs are made by Israeli companies, often in Israel, but they have international sites that manufacture other goods. These include: the Opher Guided Bomb (Elbit), Griffin laser guided bomb (Israel Aerospace Industries); Lizard (Elbit); Spice bombs (Rafael). Elbit has a US subsidiary in Fort Worth, Texas.
The following are US manufacturing sites for guided bombs used by the IOF:
- Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMS) tail kits and munitions are made by Boeing in St Charles, Missouri; Lockheed-Martin in Archbald, Pennsylvania; General Dynamics in Garland, Texas; Elwood National Forge Co in Irvine, Pennsylvania; and Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, Arizona.
- Sidewinder missiles are made by Raytheon Missile Systems Company in Tucson, Arizona
- GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb are made by Boeing in St Louis Missouri
- Hellfire missiles – usually launched from Apache helicopters – at least some of these are made by Hellfire Systems in Orlando, Florida, a Lockheed Martin/Boeing joint venture.
- Iron Dome interceptors are called Tamir and are co-produced by RTX (formerly Raytheon Technologies) and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, and assembled in Israel.
- Paveway II guided bombs are made by Lockheed Martin in Archibald, Pa. and Raytheon in Tucson, Arizona.
White Phosphorus
Israel has used white phosphorus in Gaza and Lebanon.
- Israel Chemical Ltd (ICL, now ICL Group) provides Monsanto (now Bayer) with phosphates for the production of the white phosphorus chemical provided to Pine Bluff Arsenal (PBA) near Little Rock, Arkansas, for filling.
Armored Personnel Carriers
Three weeks into the assault on Gaza, the IOF started ground operations into the Gaza Strip. This involves tanks and armoured personnel carriers, backed up by helicopters and drones.
- Power packs for the Israel-made Namer Armored Personnel Carriers are made by MTU America, Novi, MI. MTU America is the North American subsidiary of Rolls Royce Power Systems.
Naval assets
Most of the assault on Gaza is being carried out from the air and on the ground, but Israel is also using its Sa’ar 6 corvettes for the first time.
- 76mm Naval Guns are made by DRS North America, a Leonardo company
- The hull and superstructures of the Sa’ar 6 are made in Kiel, Germany, by ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS)
Military Transport and Logistics from the US to Israel
While many finished military goods are transported by the military itself, either by military vessels or airlift, components and some goods are transported by sea on board normal container vessels. Ports are key nodes in the supply chain for arms.
The key actor in shipping from the US – and elsewhere in the world – to Israel is the ZIM shipping line. ZIM is the main provider of shipping services to Israel and one of the top ten largest shipping lines in the world. Previously controlled by the Israeli government, ZIM has been privatized and listed on the NY stock exchange over the last two decades. Despite this, it still retains close links to the Israeli state and is crucial to ensuring logistical support for the state and the IDF.
Most military components enter and exit the US via its east coast ports – primarily New York/Newark, Savannah, Charleston, and the Port of Virginia. These ports are typically unionized by the International Longshoremen’s Association, or ILA. This is because most military supply chains center on Europe and the US with many components produced in Europe and final assembly taking place in the US.
With access to US trade data, it is possible to see individual shipments via their “bills of lading”, the documents used by shipping lines to identify shipments, and track patterns of deliveries. In rare instances, this can include weapons shipping on civilian vessels. For example, on March 4, 2023 a shipment of “WARHEADS, ROCKET WITH BURSTING CHARGE” produced by Raytheon in Tucson, Arizona and worth $100,000, left the Port of Virginia headed for Haifa, Israel on the Zim Yokohama containership. Other Raytheon shipments have left on the same route in the following months. In most cases, trade data can identify the routes for components. For example, Dunlop regularly ships tires for the F35 and other military aircraft from its factory in Birmingham, UK either via London to the Port of Virginia or via Liverpool to Charleston.
See section 3B in the Day of Action toolkit for more information on this.
UK
Arms Production for Israel in the UK
Since 2008, the UK has licensed the export of arms worth £560 million to Israel. This does not capture the full scale of UK military exports to Israel as many arms export licenses to Israel are “open” and there is no cap on the number of licensed exports or their value; and many licences are for the USA, for incorporation into bigger weapons systems for onward export to Israel. The most traceable exports from the UK to Israel are components for the F35 fighter jet and the F16 – both of which are used by the IOF in Gaza.
The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter
15 per cent of each F-35 is built in the UK. Exports of components for the F-35 programme are covered by an open licence from the UK government, meaning very little of this component supply is included in the £560m figure above. The main UK company involved is BAE Systems. BAE produces 13-15 per cent of each F-35 across its UK and US operations. Some of the firms and manufacturing sites for the F35 in the UK are the following:
- The rear fuselage of every F-35 fighter is made by BAE Systems at Samlesbury Aerodrome, Lancashire.
- The “active interceptor system” is made by BAE Systems in Rochester, Kent. There is a steady stream of components for F35s and Israel’s F16s from this site.
- “Durability testing” for the F35 is undertaken at the BAE structural testing facility in East Yorkshire.
- Martin-Baker make the ejector seat in the UK; their headquarters is in Higher Denham, Buckinghamshire.
- Cobham Mission Systems made the refuelling probe for the F35; Cobham Mission Systems was sold to Eaton in 2021 and is hosted at Mission Systems Wimborne Ltd.
- Leonardo make the laser targeting system for the F35 in Edinburgh.
- Dunlop Aircraft Tyres make the aircraft tyres in Birmingham
In November 2023 the UK Department for Business and Trade released a list of the 79 companies currently registered on a UK government open licence for exports in support of the F-35 programme. For an annotated version of that list, including what each company makes and where it is based (organised by region), click here.
Munitions made for the IOF in the UK
- Raytheon makes the Paveway II Guided Missile for Israel in the US. Raytheon also makes the Paveway IV in Glenrothes. While there are no export licenses for the Paveway IV to Israel from the UK, they are assembled in the US so the supply chain is unclear. Further, there could be common components made in the UK and the same multinational company has responsibility.
- The MLRS M270 rocket launcher - used inside the Gaza Strip for the first time since 2006 - is made by Lockheed Martin. It is built in Europe by an international consortium of companies from France, Germany, Italy and UK. In Germany, Krauss-Maffei-Wegmann (MKW) has signed an MoU with Elbit subsidiaries to modernise the MLRS.
Companies with UK arms export licenses to Israel
Various companies have held arms export licenses from the UK to Israel since 2008. Some of the license holders are:
- Teledyne Defence and Space, Shipley, Yorkshire. Teledyne manufacture components for air, land, sea and space radar equipment, including for the F35. Their defence and space subsidiary has one manufacturing plant in Shipley and has sales representatives (Ormic Components) based in Israel. Since 2018, its parent company Teledyne Technologies has applied for 134 export licenses from the UK to Israel.
- NB: we have not been able to trace the direct supply chains to Israeli military equipment and Palestine Action activists were prosecuted after targeting a different subsidiary in Wales (Teledyne Labtech).
- Teledyne, e2v (sales office and HQ Chelmsford and microwave electronics facility in Lincoln, UK). Originally a defence electronics company, e2v was sold to Teledyne in 2017. Although the firm has applied for 124 UK arms export licenses to Israel since 2008, this may have been in its previous incarnation as e2v and it is not clear which countries it uses to produce military technology at present.
- Elbit Systems, an Israeli defence company with subsidiaries in the UK and US has had arms export licenses issued from the UK including for: military communications components; military communications equipment; military communications equipment software, body armour and military electronic equipment. The UK subsidiary of the firm has a new R&D facility in Bristol. Although Elbit Systems exports from the UK to Israel, much of its production in the UK is focused around contracts with the British armed forces.
- The Elbit site in the UK most connected to goods used by the IOF is run by its subsidiary Instro Precision Ltd in Sandwich, Kent. Instro Precision Ltd make targeting equipment for troops and vehicles and hold export licenses to Israel – this equipment is likely used in Israel’s ground operations. This is ausefuel resource to finding companies which cooperate with Ebit Systems in the UK,
Resources and links on UK military production for Israel
- https://caat.org.uk/data/exports-uk/overview?region=Israel
- https://caat.org.uk/news/statement-on-uk-arms-exports-to-israel/
- https://caat.org.uk/data/countries/israel/
Germany
Major weapons
Germany is Israel’s second biggest foreign supplier of major conventional weapons (MCW). Over the period 2013-22, they supplied 27.6% of the MCW imported by Israel.
Military equipment supplied to Israel by Germany has mostly consisted of submarines; warships; engines for land vehicles, naval vehicles and aircraft that are assembled in Israel or the US, and torpedoes for the submarines. In many cases, the German government pays for around a third of the cost of these sales as military aid. Supplying arms to Israel is considered by Germany to be a core foreign policy interest.
Major equipment recently delivered, or currently on order, include:
- MT883Ka engines for Israel’s Merkava tanks and Namer armoured vehicles. These are assembled in the US from components made in Germany by Rolls-Royce Power Systems (formerly MTU, who designed the engine) in Friedrichshafen. The contract was agreed in 2000 and SIPRI estimate that 1060 engines have been delivered between 2002 and 2022.
- Saar-6 corvettes (warships) based on the German K130 Braunschweig class, with some component production and final fitting out in Israel. Two out of a total order of four were delivered in 2022. The order was placed in 2015 and was worth €430m, of which the German government paid €115m as military aid. The ships are produced at ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems’ (TKMS) shipyard in Kiel.
- Anti-ship torpedoes for Israel’s (German-made) Dolphin-class submarines. SIPRI estimate that 110 had been delivered by 2022, from an order for an estimated 150 in 2014. They are made by Atlas Elektronik. The Dolphin submarines were made by HDW (now part of TKMS) in Kiel.
- Three Dakar class diesel-electric submarines ordered in 2022 in a €3b deal partly funded by German military aid. Delivery is planned starting 2031. They are being built by TKMS in Kiel.
Export licences
- Germany issued arms export licences for Israel worth €32 million in 2022, compared to €88m in 2021. However, in the 10-year period 2013-22 they issued licences worth £2.5 billion, according to their official annual reports. More recent information shows that by the beginning of November 2023, Germany had already issued licences worth €303m. 85% of Germany’s 218 arms export licenses to Israel so far in 2023 were issued after the start of the current war on October 7th.
- According to Germany’s full report on arms export controls for 2021 (the 2022 report has not yet been published) 85% of the value of export licences issued for Israel in 2021 was for components for armoured vehicles and main battle tanks. In 2020, 90% of the much larger £583 million round of licences issued was for corvettes as well as engines and other parts for submarines.
F-35 supply chain
Germany has only recently become a customer for the F-35. Only one German company has been clearly identified as an F-35 supplier – Otto Fuchs KG in Meinerzhagen – which produces titanium dye forgings and leading edge spars for the F-35.
Italy
Arms Production for Israel in Italy
In 2021, Italy approved arms export licenses worth 12.5 million euros to Israel. These included 7.1 million euros of licenses for goods in the category ML10 ("Aircraft", "lighter-than-air vehicles", "Unmanned Aerial Vehicles" ("UAVs"), aero-engines and "aircraft" equipment).
F35 supply chains in Italy
Italy is a key partner in the F35 coalition. The F35 supply chain can be traced to the following sites and the partly state-owned company Leonardo:
- Leonardo produces composites and metal structures for the F35 at plants in Foggia, Nola and Venegono.
- The Leonardo Aircraft Division produces wings for the F35 at a plant in Cameri. Components from Italy are in every F35, but not all the wings are produced in Italy.
Increased links between Leonardo and the Israeli military industry:
- In February 2023, Leonardo announced partnerships with the Israeli Innovation Authority and Ramot, a Technology Transfer Company at Tel Aviv University to co-develop new projects. In November 2022, Leonardo DRS (a US based subsidiary) announced a merger with RADA Electronic Industries, an Israeli company that specialises in radar technology. The new combined company is a subsidiary of Leonardo.
SPAIN
Arms Production for Israel in Spain.
In 2021, Spain authorised 55 arms export licenses to Israel – worth 13 million euros. This included 9.8 million euros of licenses for goods in the category ML5 – fire control, surveillance and warning equipment. In 2020, Spain authorised 17.7 million euros of licenses – 9 million euro of these in ML10 and 8 million euro ML5.
Research on the connection between the Spanish arms industry and Israel focuses more on imports from Israel rather than exports as the Spanish industry is smaller and less developed than that of Israel.
Belgium
Arms Production for Israel in Belgium.
In 2021, Belgium licensed 19.8 million euros of arms exports to Israel in category ML8 (energetic materials).
South Africa
Arms Production for Israel in South Africa.
Rheinmetall operates a South African subsidiary – Rheinmetall Denel Munitions. While the multinational parent company Rheinmetall is developing a 155mm howitzer with Elbit Systems (NB customers for this include the German and potentially the UK and Hungarian governments), Rheinmetall Denel specialises in 155mm artillery ammunition. It is not yet clear whether this ammunition will be used in the co-produced howitzer.
Australia
The Australian Government committed to join the global F-35 program in 2002. Australian industry has been involved in the production of the F-35 since 2006 (see p7). Australia’s integration into the F-35 global supply chain means that every jet that flies, including the F-35A used by the Israeli Air Force during the bombardment of Gaza, contains many components manufactured in Australia. In all, the Australian Defence Department says more than 70 Australian companies have been awarded “over $4.13 billion in global production and sustainment contracts through the F-35 program to date”.
Australia has issued 322 defence export permits to Israel since January 2017, including 52 export permits to Israel in 2023, according to the Australian Department of Defence (source). Its main exports are products and components that fit into broader global supply chains for weapons and weapons systems.
This Defense News article (and this) (also this) imply that every F-35 in the global fleet will be updated with information gained from operations undertaken by any State in the fleet, potentially meaning all F-35s globally might be updated with information learned from Israel’s use of F-35s in Gaza.
The Australian Government are giving Industry Support Program Sustainment Grants for companies to develop capabilities for the Joint Strike Fighter Program
The Australian F-35 Supply Chain
KEY PARTICIPANTS
ASDAM is Australia’s largest supplier to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Program. An Australian advanced manufacturing and sustainment company, it provides end-to-end capability across design, engineering, manufacturing, assembly and sustainment. The group includes four subsidiaries: Marand, TAE Aerospace, Levett Engineering and Rosebank Engineering. (See their profiles following below.)
ASDAM’s role is to provide continued access to capital and resources to build and grow Australian sovereign industrial capability. It is majority-owned by funds managed by CPE Capital.
ASDAM’s members service a number of defence and non-defence programs, and have long term relationships with governments, defence prime contractors and other industrial customers. Customers include Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, Honeywell, Pratt & Whitney and BHP.
Combined, the four companies comprising ASDAM have 20 locations across Australia and the US and approx 1,000 employees.
Headquarters (Marand’s address): 153 Keys Rd, Moorabbin, VIC, 3189. +61 (0)3 8552 0600
One of the most successful Australian companies in the F-35 supply chain, receiving about one third of the Australian contracts in the program. Marand designed and manufactures the F-35’s engine removal and installation trailer and is recognised globally as its Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).
The company also has a long-term agreement with BAE Systems for the manufacture of the aircraft’s vertical tails, one of the largest planned manufacturing projects for the F-35 in Australia (Source, 2014).
In 2016 Marand also won the detailed design and manufacture contract for the Engine/Lift Fan Removal and Installation Trainer (ELFRIT), and the company also supplies tooling to BAE Systems in the UK and four other F-35 partner nations.
Marand has nine Australian companies directly involved in its F-35 program supply chain, with several others enabling its manufacturing efforts. Marand is part of ASDAM.
Headquarters: 153 Keys Rd, Moorabbin, VIC, 3189. +61 (0)3 8552 0600
Provides aerospace manufacturing and aluminium vacuum brazing capabilities to support parts and component manufacture for the global F-35 fleet. The company established an in-house aluminium vacuum brazing design capability allowing it to move further up the supply chain (Source: Defence F-35 industry brochure, 2018; TAE website)
In addition, TAE supports other companies, including Levett Engineering in its work supplying engine parts to Pratt & Whitney for the F135 engine, and Harris Corporation and Northrop Grumman for various vacuum-brazed components.
Significantly, TAE Aerospace now provides a complete repair, overhaul and test facility for military aircraft, including all F-35s operating in the Asia-Pacific (source: company website). The company’s F135 maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrade (MRO&U) facility in Ipswich, Queensland is the first operational F135 engine depot in the Asia-Pacific region. In July 2021 the TAE facility achieved Initial Depot Capability (IDC) for the repair of F-35 engine fan and power modules for all three variants in the F-35 fleet. (Source: Pratt & Whitney, July 2021; Defence brochure 2023) TAE’s Ipswich facility is designed to meet the more complex needs of the F-35 while continuing maintenance and repair work on the engines of other aircraft. (Source: TAE website) TAE Aerospace is part of ASDAM.
In 2023, Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of RTX (formerly Raytheon Technologies), was awarded a $5.2bn contract to produce the 15th and 16th batches of F135 engines to power the F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft, working alongside with its Australian partner, TAE Aerospace, to open a F135 Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul and Upgrade (MRO&U) facility, or depot, in Australia which became the first operational F135 engine depot in the Asia-Pacific region.
4 main sites in Australia. Headquarters: 1 Jet Place, Bundamba (Ipswich) QLD 4304 +61 (0)7 3813 6800
Precision component manufacturer, primarily for aerospace, specialising in titanium and alloy machining. Manufactures numerous components for airframes, mission systems and engines. Levett began the F-35 program delivering straightforward engine components such as tubes and vane covers. It expanded the number of components and their complexity and now manufactures fracture critical engine components and a broader range of airframe, mission systems and vehicle systems components. Levett also grew its avionics sub-assembly manufacturing capabilities to include sub-assembly integration and test in high-value niche product lines, including the active inceptor and avionics components in the F-35 program. Levett supplies Pratt & Whitney, BAE Systems, Australian Department of Defence, Northrop Grumman, and Harris Corporation. (Source: Defence F-35 industry brochure, 2018) Levett is part of ASDAM.
Headquarters: Lionsgate Park, 180 Philip Hwy, Elizabeth South, SA, 5112. +61 (0)8 8287 2144.
ROSEBANK ENGINEERING (formerly RUAG Australia) started its involvement in the F-35 program in 2004 with the manufacture of 30 components for the weapons bay door drive system uplocks.
Rosebank’s participation in the program has since expanded significantly. It produces and sustains airframe components and actuation systems, and manages sustainment of engine and fuel components. (Source: Defence brochure 2023)
Rosebank is a sole source supplier to the F-35 program providing over 150 components for the landing gear and weapons bay systems on all three variants. Its uplock actuator system opens and closes the weapons bay doors in seconds enabling the aircraft to drop its payload of munitions quickly to maintain its stealth capacity.
In 2014, Rosebank opened a metal processing and finishing facility in Wingfield (northern Adelaide) to treat and finish the F-35 vertical tail components manufactured by Marand for BAE Systems. These components require specialised capabilities and can only be processed at the Wingfield facility. (Source: Defence F-35 industry brochure, 2018; ABC, 2013)
In October 2023, Rosebank announced the activation of its F-35 Wheels & Brakes Repair Depot at Bayswater in Melbourne. Operating under sub-contract to prime contractor Lockheed Martin, Rosebank is the preferred component maintenance, repair, overhaul & upgrade (CMRO&U) assignee on five repair technology groups (RTGs) of the F-35 platform for the Indo-Pacific region. Rosebank is part of ASDAM. 5 locations in Australia.
Headquarters: 836 Mountain Hwy, Bayswater, VIC 3153. +61 (0)3 9721 1300
Voice recognition software for F-35 aircraft (Sources: Adacel 2004 MR; article 2007; Defence graphic, 2015, p57; Defence graphic, 2017).
Australian head office: Level 4, Suite 31, 150 Albert Rd, South Melbourne, Victoria, 3205, +61 (0)3 8530 7777 Australian media enquiries: Sally McDow +61 (0)420 213 035
Involved in the F-35 program since 2007. It supplies casting and machining of three components of the chassis assembly to Northrop Grumman for the F-35’s ElectroOptical Distributed Aperture System (EODAS). The company also produces 19 different components for Marand for the F-35’s complex engine removal and installation trailer, which are precision-machined castings in a range of materials. It is also the sole approved casting supplier of F-35 flare magazines worldwide. Key customers include: Northrop Grumman Corporation, BAE Systems Australia, Marand, Levett, Pratt & Whitney, Lockheed Martin (all F-35 program). (Source: Defence brochure 2018)
Headquarters: 145 Abbotts Road, Dandenong South, VIC 3175, Australia. +61 (0)3 9799 9555
[company name: Nu Metric Manufacturing Pty Ltd ]
Contracted through BAE Systems to manufacture parts used in the vertical tail of the F-35. Axiom says it has delivered parts aligned to critical deadlines since 2015 at a high conformance and production rate. The components consist of four semi-finished and four finished parts that follow multiple operations, as well as different surface treatments and painting specifications. [Source: Axiom case study.]
Headquarters: 13-19 Johansson Road, Wingfield, SA, 5013, Australia.+61 (0)8 8349 9000
One of the largest defence contractors in Australia and a key supplier to the F-35 program. Its UK parent, BAE Systems plc, is one of Lockheed Martin’s principal partners in the design, build and maintenance of the F-35. BAE Systems holds about 13-15 per cent work share globally of each F-35 aircraft. As the principal partner in the F-35 Program in Australia, BAE Systems Australia supports numerous Australian companies in the industry supply chain. It produces titanium components for the F-35 vertical tails and is also responsible for producing wiring boards and assemblies, cable assemblies, and selected electronic and communication components and other components.
23 locations across Australia,
Headquarters: 1 Taranaki Road, Edinburgh Parks, Edinburgh, SA, 5111 +61 (0)8 8480 8888
Specialises in custom cables and electrical assemblies. For the F-35, the company provides semi-rigid radio frequency cables that enable communication between the radar and other elements of the F-35's avionics [Source, 2004]. Defence’s F-35 Australian industry participation charts (2017 and 2018) list Cablex as a supplier of ejection seat wiring, harnesses, radar, EW components and TPS development
Cablex received a three-year (2018-2021) $275,000 Australian government grant “to enable the manufacture in Australia of electrical assemblies for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Ejection Seat”. [Source].
Headquarters: 63-69 Fairbank Rd, Clayton South, VIC, 3169, +61 (0)3 9575 3088
CALYTRIX TECHNOLOGIES
Australian company providing specialist production, training and simulation studies. Also involved in ongoing simulation-supported training services in collaboration w Lockheed Martin. [Source: Defence graphic, 2017; Source 2: note Titan info; Source 3: LM media release; Defence brochure 2023)
**Note: If Calytrix was a partner with Lockheed in the design and production of the F-35 training simulators, this article contains a paragraph stating that those simulators have been used by the Israeli Defence Force for training.**
Two locations in Australia; and Orlando, Florida
Headquarters: Level 8, 109 St Georges Tce, Perth, WA, 6000. +61 (0)8 9226 4288
USA: Suite 320, 12612 Challenger Pkwy, Orlando, Florida 32826, USA
Specialises in the production and delivery of countermeasure (decoy) flares. Its main manufacturing plant in Lara, Victoria is boasted as the world's most advanced countermeasures manufacturing facility and was said by Chemring in its submission to the 2016 JSF Senate inquiry to be “the worldwide second source for the manufacture of the JSF MJU68 countermeasure”.
Headquarters: 230 Staceys Road, Lara, VIC, 3212 +61 (0)3 5220 8500
DICKINSON’S METALLURGICAL SUPPLIES:
Provides raw materials supply to its industry partners for the F-35 program (Source: Defence Graphic 2023).
Headquarters: 12 - 13 Warrior Place, St Marys NSW, 2760. Phone +61 (0)2 9833 3899
A purpose-built processing and surface coating facility. It was acquired by Lovitt Technologies in 2013 to guarantee local supply of crucial wet processing and painting services. Electromold has worked on the F-35 program since early in the program’s inception in Australia. [Sources: website and submission to JSF Inquiry]
Headquarters: 202 Holt Parade, Thomastown, VIC, 3074. +61 (0)3 9464 0922
Every F-35 flying worldwide contains weapons adapters produced by Ferra Engineering (source). The company is the sole global provider of the Alternate Mission Equipment (AME) weapon adapters. In delivering this product, Ferra undertakes complex supply chain management and sub-assembly.
Ferra also designs, manufactures and assembles approximately 100 other parts for the F-35 fleet on long term contracts including complex mechanical assemblies. The parts are supplied either directly to Lockheed Martin or through other original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for on-sale to Lockheed Martin. (Source: Ferra submission to 2016 JSF Australian Senate inquiry.)
Ferra’s growth via the F-35 and other military aerospace program contracts means the company’s supply chain now includes more than 30 Australian-based companies. Ferra supplies the world’s largest military aerospace companies including Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Airbus and Raytheon.
Headquarters: 344 New Cleveland Rd, Tingalpa QLD 4173. +61 (0)7 3907 9800
G&O KERT
Supplies avionics racks and components for the F-35 program (Source: Defence Graphic 2023). Industry partners include Ferra Engineering.
Headquarters: 50 Achievement Crescent, Acacia Ridge, QLD, 4110. Phone (07) 3216 7474
HARGO ENGINEERING:
Provides component manufacturing services to the aerospace, defence, automotive and medical industries, across Australia and around the world.
Provides weapons components (Source: Defence Graphic 2023: About).
Headquarters: 103-115 Merrindale Drive, Croydon, Victoria. Phone (03) 9761 5110.
HEAT TREATMENT AUSTRALIA (HTA)
One of Australia’s leading heat treatment and thermal processing specialists. The company pioneered innovative processes for the F-35 program including a vacuum processing technique with high pressure gas quenching for the F-35’s landing gear components and new aluminium vacuum brazing (AVB) processes. HTA’s processes helped plug capability gaps and increase capacity in titanium processing, vacuum carburising, inert argon and nitrogen processing, nickel alloy and super-alloy processing and 25 bar materials cooling technology. The company’s support of RUAG, AW Bell, Lovitt Technologies, Marand, Ferra Engineering and Levett Engineering has contributed significantly to Australia’s success in the F-35 Program.
3 locations in Australia, and one in the US.
Headquarters: 32 Gay Street, Coopers Plains, QLD 4108, +61 (0)7 3170 0300
Founded in Hobart in 1955, HIFraser is part of the Australian owned HIFraser Group, a combination of specialised engineering, manufacturing & instrumentation businesses. It produces and maintains niche safety critical gas and liquid systems and supplies ongoing repair and overhaul of ground support equipment. For the F-35, HIFraser has partnered with Lockheed Martin in the repair of air-to-air refuelling valves and fuel metering pumps, which allow the JSF to refuel in midair. The company is working on components for every JSF that comes off the assembly line, not only those of the RAAF. (Source: Manly Daily). HIFraser is also partnering Lockheed Martin locally in the ongoing repair and overhaul of ground support equipment. (Source 1 and Source 2)
5 facilities across Australia.
Headquarters: 6/5 Vuko Place, Warriewood, NSW, 2102. +61 (0)2 9970 7322
Supplies specialised production tooling to support the manufacture of metallic and composite components and aero structures, including the F-35, together with the machining of composite and metallic components. (Source: Hofmann; Defence F-35 industry brochure, 2018) Hofmann has contracted to BAE Systems in Australia and the UK for the F-35 program.
Headquarters: 3 Alice Street, Bassendean, WA, 6054, +61 (0)8 9279 5522
Training programs for pilots and maintainers for the F-35 program from 2005 as part of the Northrop Grumman-managed global training and courseware development capability. KBR has continued as a courseware developer, sequencing pilot and maintainer courses for the Israeli and Australian trade groups.
As the F-35 Program has matured, the number of organisations providing courseware has reduced, with KBR Australia now providing F-35 training programs globally. (Source: Defence F-35 industry brochure, 2018; Defence graphic 2023) KBR Australia’s technical team also developed a virtual reality prototype to support higher capacity training of F-35 support crew.
6 locations in Australia Headquarters: Level 4/11 Lancaster Place, Majura Park, ACT, 2609, Australia. +61 (0)2 6102 2600
L3 MICREO (formally Micreo Limited)
Micreo, an Australian electronic warfare subsystems provider, was purchased by L3 Harris in 2016. A market leader in the design and production of radio frequency and photonic products for radar and electronic warfare. L3 Micreo’s radar components are installed in several of the world’s frontline military aircraft and ships, including the F-35. (Source; Defence F-35 brochure, 2018)
Headquarters: 7 Hi-Tech Court, Brisbane Technology Park, Eight Mile Plains, QLD 4113
Using a patented high vacuum deposition process, Lintek manufactures a variety of printed circuit boards, ranging from 1.8-meter long antennas to sub miniature transmitters, using various substrates, for the phased array radar and electronic warfare systems of the F-35 program. (Source: company website; APDR 26.2.20
Headquarters: 20 Bayldon Road, Queanbeyan, NSW, 2620. +61 (0)2 6299 1988
Wholly-owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation, the F-35’s prime contractor.
Multiple locations around Australia.
Headquarters: 8 Brisbane Avenue, Barton, ACT, 2600. +61 (0)2 6150 6500
A leader in the manufacture of complex, precision engineered, structural components and assemblies for military aerospace platforms including the F-35. It specialises in aluminium and titanium components as well as chemical processing (through its subsidiary Electromold; see above). Lovitt supports a number of F-35-related activities for companies including Levett Engineering, Ferra Engineering, Marand, Quickstep, HTA, Varley and AW Bell. (Sources: company website and Defence F-35 industry brochure, 2018)
Headquarters: 207 Para Road, Greensborough, VIC, 3088 +61 (0)3 9431 7300
Signed a 7-year agreement with Pratt & Whitney in April 2019 to produce five components for the F-35 engines, including brackets, clamps, tubes and adaptors. The contract saw Nupress’ role on the F-35 expanded, as the company already supplied F-35 canopy slings to the Varley Group. (Source: ADBR, 8.4.19)
Headquarters: 11 Nelson Road, Canurprrdiff, NSW, 2285. +61 (0)2 4903 9300
Now a subsidiary of Leonardo Australia, developed and delivers avionics test program sets (TPS) to support the F-35 program. (Source: Defence graphic, 2017) 5 Locations throughout Australia.
Headquarters: 1 Garadi Street, Yerriyong, NSW, 2540, Australia +61 (0)2 4422 2700
PROGNOSTICS AND HEALTH MANAGEMENT (PHM) TECHNOLOGY
Engine prognostics & health management software for the F-35 radar system. (Source: Defence graphic 2023)
Headquarters: 9/120 Queens Parade, North Fitzroy, VIC, 3068. +61 1300 948 505
QINETIQ AUSTRALIA
A subsidiary of British arms company QinetiQ. Delivering training support to the Australian Defence Force on platforms such as the F-35.
Headquarters: Level 1, North Tower 6, Brindabella Circuit, Brindabella Business Park, Canberra Airport, ACT, 2609. Phone +61 02 6200 2600
Every F-35 made has Quickstep components as part of the aircraft (source: Quickstep submission to JSF inquiry). The company is Australia’s largest independent aerospace-grade advanced composite manufacturer. (Sources: company website; Defence F-35 industry brochure, 2018) For the F-35 program, Quickstep is a key supplier to Northrop Grumman, providing 21 components for the F-35’s fuselage, including doors, panels and skins. It also supplies Marand Precision Engineering with parts for the F-35 vertical tail, including skins, spars and fairings. The final tail assembly is exported to BAE Systems by Marand. (Source: company website)
In December 2020, Quickstep delivered its 10,000th F-35 component, noting it was manufacturing more than 50 individual components and assemblies for Northrop Grumman, Marand and BAE Systems under the program. [Source: company media release.] The 10,000 part milestone represented approx $250 million in company revenue over the preceding seven years. Based on forecast aircraft production volumes, at then current supply rates, Quickstep said it was 20% of the way through the F-35 program.
Quickstep first became involved in the F-35 program in 2009, signing its first major agreement with Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman to manufacture F-35 composite doors and panels. Quickstep also signed an MOU with Marand and BAE Systems the same year. In 2014, Quickstep signed a long term agreement with Marand to produce composite parts for 700 sets of F-35 vertical tails. Quickstep delivered the first parts under this agreement in the latter half of 2015.
3 facilities in Australia; also Dallas, USA.
Headquarters: 361 Milperra Rd, Bankstown Aerodrome (Western Sydney), NSW, 2200.
+61 (0)2 9774 0300
RFD AUSTRALIA
Australian division of Survitec, a larger company which has 11 manufacturing facilities and over 400 service centres, spanning 96 countries. Its Australian subsidiary, specialises in the supply and service of survival technology to the maritime, defence and government, aerospace, and energy sectors worldwide, including each F-35 pilot with Aircrew Flight Equipment (AFE). Headquarters: 2 Burilda Close, Wetherill Park, New South Wales, 2164, Australia. Phone +61 (0)3 9532 1822
Joint venture between Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH (51%) and NIOA (49%). produces and exports ammunition for the F-35 JSF program. Produces 25mm Frangible Armour Piercing (FAP) projectiles at the federal government owned Benalla plant in Victoria (Source: Media Release: Press Release). Australian-owned NIOA is the leading supplier of weapons and munitions to the Australian Defence Force and Rheinmetall Waffe Munitions is a global multinational weapons manufacturer.
Headquarters: 52 Industrial Avenue, Maryborough, West Queensland, 4650. Phone +61 7 43 678 500.
ROCKWELL COLLINS AUSTRALIA
A wholly-owned subsidiary of Collins Aerospace, a US subsidiary of the RTX corporation (formerly Raytheon Technologies). Manufactures the electro-optical (EO) assembly from the AAQ-37 Distributed Aperture System for the F-35. 8 locations in Australia. Headquarters: 8/12 Mars Rd Lane Cove West, New South Wales, 2066. Phone +61 (0)2 9886 8888.
Flight specialists who produce precision gear components and control systems including for the F-35 Engine Removal and Installation Mobility Trailer, which was designed and developed by Melbourne-based Marand Precision Engineering. Clients including, BAE Systems, Marand, and Ferra Engineering.
Headquarters: 18 Teton Court, Highett, Victoria, 3190. +61 3 9276 8900
TR CALIBRATION
Specialises in the calibration and repair of test and measurement equipment and instruments within Australia. TR Calibration is part of TR Group, Australia’s leading provider of technology solutions. Its customers include Raytheon Australia, Australian Defence Force, New Zealand Defence Force, Boeing Defence Australia, Airbus, BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin.
Headquarters: 41 Enterprise Cct, Prestons, NSW, 2170. Phone +61 1300 790 480.
Involved in the F-35 program from 2003 during the System Development and Demonstration phase. The company has since been given numerous contracts to deliver specialised F-35 aircraft ground support equipment for all three F-35 variants. Varley works with both Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman on the program. It designed and manufactures the landing gear handling system and canopy maintenance sling assembly for Lockheed Martin, achieving the status of original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for these items. In 2008, Varley was also contracted by LM to design and develop a field use variant of the landing gear handling system in addition to the original variant used at military bases. In 2015, Varley signed a long term agreement with Lockheed Martin. For Northrop Grumman, from 2005, Varley designed and has manufactured the F-35’s aircraft maintenance sling. (Source: Defence F-35 industry brochure, 2018)
In March 2023, marking Varley’s 20-year partnership with Lockheed Martin, Varley noted it has produced 27 deployable duty facilities and 7 deployable ICT Facilities totalling more than $21 million in Lockheed Martin supplier contracts for the JSF program. (Source: Lockheed media release).
9 facilities around Australia. Headquarters: 21 School Drive, Tomago (Newcastle), NSW, 2322. +61 (0)2 4964 0400
OTHER PARTICIPANTS (minor or otherwise unlikely involved beyond Australia)
A provider of Asset Integrity Management, Non Destructive Testing (NDT), Mechanical / Corrosion Testing, Welding Tech Services. Provides testing support for the F-35 program.
Headquarters: Unit 3/146-148 Williams Rd, Dandenong South, VIC, 3175. Phone +61 0(3) 9791 1118
APPLIED FASTENERS AND TOOLING
Supply and support of quality fasteners and assembly tooling consumables to various industries worldwide. Customers include BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin, Australian Defence Department, Thales, Boeing, Airbus, and more.
Headquarters: 317/198 Harbour Esplanade, Docklands, Victoria, 3008. Phone +61 0(3) 9939 8979
Specialises in testing, inspection and certification.
Headquarters: Multiple locations across Australia. Phone +61 (0) 3 9922 0700.
CAE AUSTRALIA: Defence lists CAE as having been involved in production and training studies for the JSF (Source: Defence graphic 2023). Despite it being a major supplier of training to the RAAF, I found no evidence that CAE Australia is involved in actual F-35 training. Other companies noted in this document have been named as providing F-35 training locally (Lockheed Martin, Milskil, KBR).
Headquarters CAE: Building A, Campus Business Park, 350 Parramatta Road, Homebush NSW Australia 2140. +61-2-9748-4844. Offices also in Brisbane and Canberra.
CAE Sale Military Training Centre: 17 Wellington Park Way, Sale, Victoria 3850, Australia
CALM ALUMINIUM
Provides metal materials for the F-35 program.
Headquarters: 28 Saggart Field Rd, Minto, NSW, 2566. Phone +61 (0)2 9603 6486
CGB PRECISION PRODUCTS
Provides bearings and related components for the Defence and Aerospace Industry.
Headquarters: Unit 9, 32 Silkwood Rise Carrum Downs, Victoria, 3201. Phone +613 9775 1125.
Specialises in metal alloys and ingots. Supplies materials for the F-35 program (Source: Defence Graphic 2023).
Headquarters; New Zealand. Australian Site: 106 Mileham St, South Windsor, NSW 2756. Phone +61 2 9627 7150
ISCAR AUSTRALIA
Supplies precision carbide metalworking tools. They produce a range of carbide inserts, carbide endmills, and cutting tools, covering most metal cutting applications (Source: About).
Headquarters: 30 Brookhollow Avenue, Norwest, NSW, 2153. Phone 02 8848 3500
Subsidiary of British firm Martin Baker which specialises in the design and manufacture of ejection seats and related equipment. Work in Australia on F-35 program includes maintenance, repair and overhaul of ejector seats for local/regional F-35s. In 2016 the company was named as partner to BAE Systems Australia to work on repairs of F-35 life support systems, including the onboard oxygen generator and the ejection seat assembly.
Headquarters: 1 Technology Place, Building F1:01, Williamtown, NSW, 2318 +61 1800 235 328
Provides training development and delivery, including aircrew training instruction for the F-35A. It was selected in early 2018 to provide support training services for the RAAF F-35 program in close partnership with Lockheed Martin Australia.
In 2020, Milskil teamed with Lockheed Martin Australia in a 3-year, $67m Defence contract to deliver F-35 training services including pilot instructors, maintenance instructors, courseware developers, training device technicians and IT support at RAAF Williamtown (NSW) and RAAF Tindal (NT). The contract included operation and maintenance support for six F-35A full mission simulators at Williamtown. Plans for four more simulators at RAAF Base Tindal in 2021 were also included in the support arrangements. (Source: ADBR, December 2020; Lockheed media release, December 2020.)
Headquarters: Unit 2.01, Level 1, Building E, 1 Technology Place, Williamtown, NSW, 2318. +61 (0)2 4934 5555
MOGUS (FORMERLY BRENCO AEROSPACE)
global provider of surface coating and engineering processes. Australian supplier Brenco was acquired by Houston (US) based valve manufacturer MOGAS Industries in 2019. Headquarters: 63 Tacoma Circuit, Canning Vale, Perth, Western Australia, 6155. Phone +61 (0)8 9456.3533.
Produces the wing tip lenses for the F-35. Its Australian office is a support centre for its product.
Headquarters: 23 Ovata Dr, Tullamarine, VIC, 3043. +61 (0)3 9335 1557
Manufactures plating, engineering coatings and finishes for the F-35. (Source, ADM 15.6.16; Defence graphic, 2017)
Headquarters: 105 Lakemba Street, Belmore, NSW, 2192. +61 (0)2 9750 8011
Supplies its cutting tools to BAE Systems Australia and other JSF manufacturing companies. (Source: DMTC submission to JSF Senate Inquiry)
Headquarters: 378 Settlement Road, Thomastown, VIC, 3074. +61 (0)3 9280 0800
A subsidiary of Pelican Products specialising in protective packaging. It is the major case supplier to the Australian Defence Force. Provides storage containers for the F-35 program. (Source: Defence graphic, 2017)
Australian head office: 2 Forbes Close, Knoxfield, VIC, 3180 +61 (03) 9765 1500
Provides shipping containers and packaging for aerospace and defence companies. In 2021, Integra Packaging was renamed UBEECO. (Source: Defence graphic, 2017) 5 locations around Australia.
Headquarters: 28 Sarah Andrews Close, Erskine Park, NSW, 2759, +61 (0)2 9670 9800
Has utilised its design, metal shaping and fabrication expertise in a variety of defence based projects including the F-35 joint strike fighter. The company specialises in bespoke solutions for complex metal structures that require purpose shaping and bending for specific applications.
Headquarters: 63 Mark Anthony Drive, Dandenong South, VIC, 3175. +61 3 9771 4900
Involved in the F-35A’s airframe structural design and finite element (FE) analysis and testing (source: company video). It also partnered with BAE Systems to optimise machining efficiency (source: DMTC submission to JSF Senate Inquiry). 4 locations in Australia.
Headquarters: 279 Normanby Rd, Port Melbourne, VIC, 3207. +61 (0)3 9647 9700
WESTERN AUSTRALIA SPECIALTY ALLOYS (WASA):
Specialises in materials supply (titanium, nickel, aluminium and steel alloys) and supplies the master remelt alloy barstock for the PWA powder atomisation process used to produce critical components for the F-35. (Source: WA Defence Review, 2019, p99)
Customers include Pratt & Whitney, Rolls Royce and GE Aviation. Multiple locations around Australia. Headquarters: 2-4 Hopewell St, Canning Vale, WA, 6155. + 61 (0)8 9455 4111
THESE COMPANIES EITHER DO NOT SUPPLY THE PROGRAM, NO LONGER EXIST, OR HAVE LEFT AUSTRALIA
BROENS INDUSTRIES (acquired by Verseng Group)
BROENS NO LONGER EXISTS. Verseng acquired the business of the liquidated Broens in 2017. No evidence found that Verseng is involved in the F-35 program. It was not listed in the 2018 Defence F-35 brochure.
Broens had been one of the first Australian companies involved in the F-35 program, starting in 2004. It undertook a limited amount of work directly for Lockheed Martin, but most of its JSF work was through BAE Systems plc, including the manufacture of fixtures and composite tooling for the vertical tail. Broens also won an international multi-million dollar tender by Pratt & Whitney to design and manufacture the engine gearbox lift. In 2012, Broens was reported as manufacturing multiple units of the lift. It was expected that ultimately every JSF squadron globally would have one or more; an estimated global total of 150 lifts. (Sources: SLDinfo.com, 2012; Defence graphic, 2017; Verseng website)
Verseng headquarters: 6 Oldham Road, Elizabeth South, SA, 5112, +61 (0)8 8268 2562
GKN AEROSPACE ENGINEERING SERVICES
NO LONGER EXISTS IN AUSTRALIA employed a full range of capabilities in airframe structural analysis and design, electrical engineering and systems installation design and was central to the success of Australian industry involvement in the F-35 program.
In 2002, GKN AES decided to actively pursue work on the F-35 and was the first company to receive a contract in the program. In November 2003, it was awarded a contract by Northrop Grumman for 18 staff (nine based in the US) to support the design, analysis and manufacture of F-35 centre fuselage parts for 15 months. The contract expanded over the next three years peaking during 2006 with over 220 GKN AES designers and engineers being part of the F-35 program, of which more than 90 per cent were based in Australia.
The company worked for both Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman on all three variants of the F-35. It accumulated one million engineering hours designing some 3,000 distinct parts for the F-35 which amounted to 12 per cent of the airframe by part number.
In 2009, GKN’s engineering services activities were sold to an Indian engineering firm which decided to close the Australian operation. Even so, there remain a large number of Australian aerospace engineers with significantly enhanced experience spread throughout Australian industry and the aerospace industry globally. (Source: Defence F-35 industry brochure, 2018)
NO LONGER EXISTS Goodrich in Australia was in partnership with Rosebank Engineering (now RUAG Australia, see entry below) manufacturing components for the F-35. In addition to actuators for the landing gear and the weapons bay door drive system, other Goodrich content on the F-35 included the air data system, engine and fuel quantity sensors, and unique STOVL engine and airframe components. Goodrich Corporation went through several mergers and acquisitions and no longer exists.
NOTE: Norseld is not listed as an F-35 program supplier in Defence’s most recent supplier chart (2023). It may become a supplier in future, which seems to be its intention.
Traditionally a medical laser company, Norseld is now seeking growth by moving into supplying the military. It has worked with Defence via the Centre for Defence Industry Capability (now known as the Office of Defence Industry Support) to develop laser technology for the F-35. Norseld has reportedly secured a $1 million grant to invest in a new coating chamber to improve tools used in the development of Australia’s F-35 program. Headquarters: 18 Lowe St, Adelaide, SA, 5000. +61 (0)8 8231 9000
Further Resources
- US Foreign Aid to Israel doc: https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/RL/RL33222
- 2009 Amnesty report: https://www.amnesty.org/en/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/mde150122009en.pdf
- Brazil arms trade with Israe: https://bdsmovement.net/pt/news/declara%C3%A7%C3%A3o-contra-aprova%C3%A7%C3%A3o-dos-acordos-de-coopera%C3%A7%C3%A3o-com-o-regime-de-apartheid-de-israel
Canada’s Arms trade with Israel: https://worldbeyondwar.org/canadastoparmingisrael/
To find out if a company near you is complicit in Israeli crimes you can use the following databases: Investigate and WhoProfits