Montana Aerospace: Montana Aerospace Strengthens Partnership with Lockheed Martin in the F-35 Program

Reinach (pta021/23.07.2026/16:10 UTC+2)

Asco Industries, a subsidiary of Montana Aerospace AG, secures long-term agreement for key structural components of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II aircraft at the Farnborough International Airshow

Montana Aerospace, a leading highly vertically integrated manufacturer and supplier of system components and complex assemblies for the aerospace industry, has further expanded its long-standing partnership with Lockheed Martin in the F-35 program during the Farnborough International Airshow. Its Belgian subsidiary, Asco Industries, has signed a new Long-Term Agreement (LTA) to manufacture high-precision structural components for the wings of the F-35 Lightning II.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Theo Francken, Belgium's Minister of Defense & Foreign Trade, who visited the Montana Aerospace booth during the Farnborough International Airshow.

"We have been a proud partner of Lockheed Martin and a contributor to the F-35 program for nearly two decades," said Jérôme Morhet, CEO of Asco Industries. "The signing of this new long-term agreement reinforces the importance of our collaboration in one of the world's most significant defense programs. It also highlights the outstanding expertise of our teams in Belgium in manufacturing highly complex structural components for mission-critical military aviation systems."

Aimee Burnett, vice president of F-35 Business Development at Lockheed Martin, added: "The F-35 program succeeds because of strong partnerships with industry across the globe. This agreement reflects our continued investment in a resilient, highly capable industrial base and reinforces Belgium's important contribution to delivering advanced airpower for the growing F-35 fleet."

The new agreement builds on the production volumes already established over recent years and covers six high-precision structural components that are integrated into every F-35 Lightning II aircraft. These include the Wing Folding Rib for the carrier variant (F-35C) as well as the left- and right-hand spars for the aileron actuation system. All components will be manufactured at Asco's production facility in Belgium, from machining and surface treatment to pre-assembly.

With this new Long-Term Agreement, Asco further strengthens its position as a strategic high-precision supplier within the global F-35 industrial network. At the same time, Montana Aerospace reinforces its role as an international partner for highly sophisticated structural components in the defense sector.

Defense Becoming a Strategic Growth Market

Against the backdrop of rising defense investments across Europe and globally, the defense sector is becoming an increasingly strategic growth market for the aerospace industry. Long-term programs such as the F-35 provide stable production volumes over many years while requiring highly specialized manufacturing capabilities, uncompromising quality standards and resilient supply chains. Today, approximately 25 percent by value of every F-35 is produced by European industry, highlighting the region's important role in the program.

For Montana Aerospace, the extension of this agreement therefore represents not only another important milestone in its collaboration with Lockheed Martin, but also underscores the Group's position as a trusted partner for complex aerospace structures in a growing defense market.

Paul Andreucci, Chief Commercial Officer of Montana Aerospace, commented: "Asco has been a valued member of the F-35 global industrial team for nearly two decades. This new agreement reflects the consistently high quality and reliability that the Asco team brings to the program. We look forward to further strengthening this partnership as the F-35 program continues to grow."

Press contact
Jürgen Beilein
Mobile: +43 664 831 2 841
Email: communication@montana-aerospace.com

Press photo

LTA Signing Ceremony 22.07.2026, © Montana Aerospace AG

L–R: Front row: Kris Yowell, Vice President, Global Supply Chain, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics; Jérôme Morhet, CEO, Asco Industries (a Montana Aerospace company). Second row: Theo Francken, Belgian Minister of Defence and Foreign Trade; Jay Pitman, President of Lockheed Martin International. Third row: Steve Sheehy, Vice President, International Business Development, Lockheed Martin.

About Montana Aerospace AG

Montana Aerospace AG is a globally active industrial group specializing in the development and production of system components and complex assemblies for the aerospace industry. All products and solutions are based on decades of expertise and are used wherever the highest standards of quality, durability, and reliability are required. At 16 locations across Europe, North America, and Asia, around 6,300 highly qualified employees work on developing innovative technologies for the aerospace of tomorrow—using aluminum, titanium, steel, and composite materials. As a true one-stop shop, Montana Aerospace provides integrated solutions across the entire value chain—from the development of proprietary alloys in its casthouses through extrusion, machining, surface treatment, and pre-assembly—offering customers comprehensive, end-to-end support with shorter lead times, reduced procurement complexity, and greater flexibility.

About Asco Industries (Asco)

Asco is a global leader in the design, manufacturing, and assembly of high-lift mechanisms, complex structural assemblies, and mission-critical components for the commercial and military aviation industry. As a subsidiary of Montana Aerospace AG, Asco offers OEMs and Tier-1 customers a onestop-shop approach for highly precise, ready-to-install aerospace solutions. With approximately 1,100 employees at locations in Belgium, Germany, the USA, and Canada, Asco supplies leading programs from Airbus, Boeing, Embraer, Bombardier, and Gulfstream, as well as defense projects such as FCAS. Efficient, sustainable manufacturing and continuous innovation drive the company's future success.

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Emitter:	Montana Aerospace Alzbachstrasse 27 5734 Reinach Switzerland
Contact Person:	Jürgen Beilein
Phone:	+43 664 831 28 41
E-Mail:	communication@montana-aerospace.com
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