RUAG Australia has signed on with Honeywell International to become a Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO) Authorized Service Center 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, RUAG Australia believes this contract will strengthen the sovereign capability for RUAG and its 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 Authorized Service Center will be exclusive to RUAG in the APAC region and will support ongoing maintenance and sustainment of the wheels and brakes for the fifth generation F-35 fleet.
RUAG Australia, which has a long-standing history of partnering with Honeywell on various defense platforms and programs, will transition its defense and aerospace technical team from current legacy programs into the F-35 Global Support Systems (GSS).
“We are honored to partner with RUAG Australia to provide wheels and brakes sustainment and support services for the F-35 fleet in the APAC region,” said Carlo Malatesta, Senior Customer Business Manager, Honeywell. “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 Defense, and the launch of this Authorized Service Center will further strengthen the industry’s capabilities for years to come.”
“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,” said Terry Miles, General Manager of RUAG Australia. “This is a significant boost for Australian sovereign Defense 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,” added Felix Ammann, Executive Vice President, RUAG MRO International. “Kudos to the RUAG Australia team and Honeywell International for embracing continuous improvement and capability development at a local level to improve global competitiveness.”
