F-35 Supplier Spotlight: Manufacturing Complex Machined Parts with ASCO Aerospace Canada
Approximately 30 Canadian companies from coast to coast currently produce specialized parts, technology or equipment for the F-35—the most advanced, connected and combat-proven fighter aircraft in production today. One of those companies is ASCO Aerospace Canada, a subsidiary of Montana Aerospace, based in Delta, British Columbia, specializing in high-speed machining of large, complex aerostructure parts made from aluminum, steel or titanium.
ASCO Canada has been a longstanding participant in the global F-35 program since 2010 and employs 140 people across Canada, including a dedicated team of 50 working on the F-35. This small but mighty team delivers significant components, manufacturing the main bulkheads, engine mounts and longerons for all F-35 models around the world. These are very complex and large machined parts made out of aluminum, steel or titanium.
Long-Term Benefits From a Long-Standing Program
The work on the F-35 program helped ASCO Canada break into the defence landscape, delivering a ripple effect within the community through a range of high-skilled and lucrative jobs.
"Long-term partnerships like the one we have with Lockheed Martin bring new opportunities and job security for employees,” says Kevin Russell, vice president and general manager at ASCO Aerospace Canada. “The stability of the defence market helps offset the more volatile commercial market. These relationships are also important to the success of the industry, as manufacturing of complex aerospace parts is not a quick process and it takes time and investment to develop technology like this.”
F-35 suppliers are globally recognized as leaders in their sectors, and participation by Canadian industry expands opportunities for these suppliers across the broader defence industry. The opportunity to support the F-35 has allowed ASCO’s BC facility, and Montana Aerospace as a whole, to invest in innovation, new technology and the development of more advanced machining methods for complex parts that benefit other contracts as well.
Supporting Canada’s Economy Into the Future
As F-35 production and sustainment of more than 3,600 aircraft continue in the years ahead, the F-35 program is anticipated to generate more than CAD$15.5B in economic value for Canadian industry through 2058.
As a partner, Canada’s suppliers will continue to have the opportunity to bid on additional production and sustainment content to support a global fleet of thousands of F-35s. For ASCO Canada, the team looks forward to additional work opportunities in this program and is proud to be supporting Canada’s future fleet of fighters.