News Lockheed Martin Names IAE as “Elite Supplier”

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Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has been named “Elite Supplier” by Lockheed Martin for the third consecutive year. Lockheed Martin’s recognition of IAI excellence dates back to 2002 when IAI developed a unique solution in response to a challenge posed by Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky division. This referred to the 20 per cent weight reduction and lowering the price of the horizontal folding stabilisers of the BLACK HAWK helicopter in UH/HH-60M configuration. IAI remains the sole supplier of this product to Lockheed Martin.

The horizontal folding stabiliser is a proprietary IAI development made of composite materials, controlling the ascending and descent of the helicopter. To date, IAI has manufactured over 4,000 stabilisers which are mounted in all the helicopters of the US military. The composite materials consist of graphite fibres that have been saturated with resin to enable the molding of an assembly that maintains the same physical properties and strength of the product. From a maintenance perspective, this is a highly durable product that withstands corrosion and erosion while being as strong as metal.