RUAG Australia has signed an agreement with Honeywell International to become a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) Authorised Service Centre for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Wheels and Brakes program in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. As the Product Support Provider (PSP) for F-35 Wheels and Brakes, this will strengthen sovereign capability for RUAG Australia and their ability to deliver on customer requirements.
Following on from receiving Authority to Proceed (ATP) from the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO), the establishment of the Honeywell MRO Authorised Service Centre will be exclusive to RUAG in the APAC region and support ongoing maintenance and sustainment of the wheels and brakes for the fifth generation F-35 fleet. This is the first of many F-35 sustainment assignments to be awarded to RUAG Australia. RUAG Australia will transition its defence and aerospace technical team from current legacy programs into the F-35 Global Support Systems (GSS).
Carlo Malatesta, Senior Customer Business Manager, Honeywell, says, “We are honoured to partner with RUAG Australia to provide wheels and brakes sustainment and support services for the F-35 fleet in the APAC region. With decades of experience, Honeywell is well positioned to support RUAG’s MRO requirements that also complement sovereign capabilities for the Australian Defence Force. The APAC region is a high growth region for Defence, and the launch of this Authorised Service Centre will further strengthen the industry’s capabilities for years to come.”
Terry Miles, General Manager of RUAG Australia, notes “We have seized the opportunity to deliver reliable MRO solutions for the F-35 GSS program, by leveraging our expertise and long-standing success of providing MRO sustainment for complex aircraft components. This is a significant boost for Australian sovereign Defence capability and sets the foundation for future industry growth whilst supporting local employment opportunities.”
“This achievement is yet another significant milestone for developing Australia’s industrial sovereign capability and delivering our commitment as one of the joint partner nations in the F-35 Program. Kudos to the RUAG Australia team and Honeywell International for embracing continuous improvement and capability development at a local level to improve global competitiveness,” says Felix Ammann, Executive Vice President, RUAG MRO International.
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