Terma in deal for F-35 composite parts

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COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Feb. 5 (UPI) -- Composite parts for the international F-35 Lightning II program will be made by Terma of Denmark under a deal with U.S. firm Lockheed Martin Aeronautics.

The Terma Group said the agreement covers the sole-source manufacture and assembly of horizontal tail leading edges for all F-35 variants.

The contract is until 2019, includes follow-on options and is worth $95 million.

"The agreement signing solidifies Terma's position on the F-35 program and shows how collaboration can benefit Terma, Lockheed Martin and the F-35 program as a whole," said Jens Maaloe, Terma's president and chief executive officer.

"The companies will explore technologies, set a path forward to achieve manufacturing efficiencies to meet rigorous quality requirements and work toward establishing Terma as a premier supplier of composite parts."

Terma, which has collaborated with Lockheed Martin Aeronautics since 1976 on the original F-16 program, has been part of the F-35 program since 2000. It recently entered an agreement with Northrop Grumman for the manufacture of component parts for the F-35 Lightning II program.

"By entering these agreements, we have established the necessary solid and reliable base for our future investment in technology, production facilities, and human resources," said Maaloe.