Aircraft

Volvo Aero's Norwegian operation has won an initial $1.7 million contract from General Electric to make forward and aft high-pressure (HP) compressor cases for the alternate F136 engine in development for the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Potentially worth up to $177 million, the agreement follows Volvo's earlier production of HP compressor aft cases for Phase III test F136 engines, and forms part of the build-up to test runs in 2008 under the programme's current system development and demonstration phase activities.

The deal represents a step-up in Norwegian involvement in the F136 and the JSF programme overall. "The GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team has indicated that this contribution may well increase," the companies say.