Morrison Government continues to back small businesses in F-35 program

The Morrison Government is backing small businesses in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program by awarding a new contract to Australian company Nupress Tools.

The Cardiff-based engineering firm has been awarded $250,000 to purchase a machining centre, train staff and develop systems for aerospace engine component manufacturing.

The New Air Combat Capability Industry Support Program is designed to help Australian businesses compete for contracts within the F-35 JSF Program. Another small business, Norseld, received $1 million under the program last month to design and develop a large coating chamber at their Adelaide facility.

Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Melissa Price MP, who will today visit the

F-35 production line at Lockheed Martin’s Dallas facility, said Australian small businesses continue to lead the way on new developments in this global program.

“Nupress Tools and Norseld are a shining examples of Aussie ingenuity in the global F-35 program and are showing the world what our small businesses are capable of in the defence industry,” Minister Price said.

“More than 50 Australian companies have shared in $1.69 billion in global F-35 production contracts, creating more than 2,000 Aussie jobs.”

“The Morrison Government is on track to deliver more than 5,000 jobs by 2023 with Australian businesses sharing more than $2 billion in work on the F-35 JSF.”