Kaiser Aluminum on August 11 announced an agreement with Transtar Metals to supply Lockheed Martin and its partners Northrop-Grumman and BAE Systems with high-quality fabricated aluminum plate products for the Department of Defense's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the Lightning II. The long-term contract will run through 2016, commencing with the production debut of the new aircraft in 2009.
"This is a revolutionary aircraft with specifications that call for the highest-quality fabricated aluminum products," said Jack A. Hockema, chairman, president and CEO, Kaiser Aluminum.
"We welcome Kaiser Aluminum's participation in the important role of supplying high-strength aluminum plate products to this critical defense program," said Steve Scheinkman, president and CEO of Transtar Metals.
The Joint Strike Fighter is a single-seat, single-engine military supersonic stealth aircraft used to perform close air support, tactical bombing and air-to-air combat. Scheduled to make its maiden flight this year, the F-35 is the United States Department of Defense's focal point for defining next-generation strike aircraft weapon systems for the Navy, Air Force, Marines and allied countries.
Lockheed Martin is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. Transtar Metals is an industry-leading supplier of high-performance metals to the aerospace and defense industries.
Kaiser Aluminum is a leading producer of fabricated aluminum products for aerospace and high-strength, general engineering, and automotive and custom industrial applications. The company has more than 2,000 employees and 11 plants in
