F-35 Supplier Spotlight: Vaughan Ontario’s LHM Delivering Complex Landing Gear for the Global Fleet
The global F-35 program is taking flight, and it’s being powered by Canadian companies. Approximately 30 Canadian companies from coast-to-coast are contributing to the $3.2 million worth of Canadian parts and technology that are already part of each and every jet.
LHM Technologies Inc., a Solestra Group company, is one of those suppliers. With more than 45 years of experience, the Vaughn, Ontario-based company is a respected Canadian manufacturer of complex components, assemblies and sub-assemblies for aerospace and defence platforms.
Sustaining Canada’s Advanced Manufacturing Workforce
Since joining the F-35 program in 2021, LHM has been responsible for manufacturing complex landing gear assemblies and components.
Today, LHM employs 97 people in Canada, all of whom contribute to the F-35 program. Importantly, participation in the F-35 supply chain has also supported workforce growth, with employment increasing by 17 percent since the company joined the program.
“The long-term nature of the F-35 program has supported stable employment across engineering, manufacturing, quality and program support roles, while enabling continued investment in employee training and advanced capabilities,” says Katarina Gotovac, Vice President, LHM.
Impact Beyond the Factory Floor
The benefits of participation in the F-35 program extend well beyond LHM’s own operations, creating additional opportunities across its domestic supply chain and further supporting Canada’s economic resilience.
“Working on the F-35 program has helped strengthen LHM's competitiveness, supported Canadian aerospace and defence expertise and generated economic activity through our domestic supply chain,” Gotovac explains. “The program's global scope has also enabled our organization to pursue further international opportunities.”
Participation in the F-35 program places Canadian suppliers among a globally recognized group of industry leaders and expands opportunities for these companies across the broader defence industry. As partners, companies like LHM are positioned to remain active participants in the global supply chain and will have continued opportunities to compete for additional work in support of the growing global fleet.
