The rear fuselage of F-35 stealth fighter jets is manufactured in the UK, not the US. The BAE Corporation this week supplied Lockheed Martin, the aircraft’s manufacturer, with the 1,000th rear fuselage section.
Lockheed Martin’s UK facilities are located in Samlesbury, Lancashire, with 1,500 employees producing the rear end of all the F-35s flying in the world.
Bridget Lauderdale, vice president of Lockheed Martin and manager of the F-35 aircraft program, told UK DEFENSE JOURNAL that the stealth aircraft program is an engine of economic prosperity and a contribution of approximately 41 million pounds to the British economy and support for 20 thousand jobs in the supply chain of the aircraft, most of which are located and operate in North West Britain.
510 UK companies participate in the F-35 program for the British Royal Air Force and for 17 countries around the world.