Australia Begins Providing F-35 Wheels and Brakes Repair Work

02 November 2023

RAAF F-35A wheel (photo : dvids)

An Australian company has commenced providing critical support for the global F-35 Program in the Indo-Pacific Region, including Australia’s fleet of F-35A aircraft.

Rosebank Engineering has activated its F-35 Lightning II wheels and brakes repair depot at its Bayswater facility in Melbourne, Victoria.

Head of Aerospace Systems Division, Air Vice-Marshal Graham Edwards, welcomed Rosebank’s activation of its wheels and brakes repair depot under the F-35 Global Support Solution for aircraft operating in, or deployed to, the Indo-Pacific Region.

“This activation of the repair service is an important contribution to the F-35 enterprise in the Indo-Pacific region,” Air Vice-Marshal Edwards said.

“Rosebank Engineering was awarded a $2.26 million grant to support its depot activation for wheels and brakes, providing an investment in Australian skills and jobs as well as delivering a significant export opportunity.

“Australian industry is playing an increasingly important role in the production and sustainment of the global F-35 fleet, which has now reached over 975 aircraft of an expected global fleet of over 3,000.

“To date more than 70 Australian companies have directly shared more than $4.13 billion in global F-35 production and sustainment contracts.”

Rosebank Engineering, which has a long history of maintenance, repair and overhaul support to the Royal Australian Air Force on platforms including the recently retired F/A-18A/B Classic Hornet and the current in-service F/A-18F Super Hornet, has established an important regional capability that also contributes to the global F-35 Program.

To establish this capability, the company has partnered with the F-35 Joint Program Office, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, Honeywell, and the Australian Department of Defence.

(Aus DoD)