Multicut A/S of Denmark has been notified by Lockheed Martin that it's to be contracted to make aluminum machined parts for F-35 fighters.

Under the contract to be issued, the Danish company will produce items such as brackets and fittings for the F-35 for an initial period of three years.

"Denmark continues to benefit from participating in the F-35 program, and this contract award with Multicut reaffirms Lockheed Martin's commitment to grow the industrial participation program with Danish companies of all sizes," Jack Crisler, Lockheed Martin F-35 vice president, said at a ceremony at Multicut in Vildbjerg.

"Multicut and other Danish companies are participating in a truly international, highly innovative 'next generation' program, which will endure for more than 40 years. Should Denmark select the F-35, Danish companies will be involved in the construction of the F-35 global fleet, and potentially in sustainment of the F-35 over the entire life cycle of the program."

Lars Rasmussen, Multicut A/S chief executive officer, called the impending contract a major event that "allows us to move into component manufacturing for a fifth-generation fighter aircraft and positions our company well for many years to come."

Air Force tests F-35A electronic systems in special chamber
Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. (UPI) Nov 13, 2015 -A U.S. Air Force is testing the electronic systems of the F-35A fighter jet.

The Electromagnetic Environmental Effects testing, known as E3 or Triple E by the team conducting the tests, has been taking place at the Benefield Anechoic Facility since mid-September.

"… We're testing the different electronic components on the jet and making sure they don't interfere with each other," said Jeff Farren, Joint Strike Fighter lead E3 test engineer. "When you're up there flying you don't want your radar to cut off your communications systems."

The testing will allow the JSF Program Office to sign off on verification on military electromagnetic standards, which are a requirement to begin initial operational capability testing of the F-35A, with its Block 3i software and final use of the software.

Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps F-35 variants each use a unique block of software, which have to be tested.

The Benefield Anechoic Facility features radar absorbent material to simulate a clean RF environment and was was modified for the F-35A tests.

"It is very unique; we've mostly done fourth generation aircraft and there's been a learning curve associated with bringing in a fifth-generation aircraft," said 2nd Lt. Isaac Ramirez, 772nd Test Squadron BAF project manager.

The BAF test team has around 70 members, including maintainers and F-35 cockpit operators. The cockpit operators are not pilots, but JSF test engineers who sit in the aircraft for most of the testing to operate the aircraft systems.