Mon, Dec 06, 2010
Deliveries Of The Key Component Spanned 17 Years
While they'll likely be flying for a good, long time, the final
chapter for one production element of the F-22 Raptor
was written this week. Aerojet said Thursday that it
shipped the last F-22 Raptor forward boom to The Boeing Company in
Seattle, WA. The shipment completed the 10th lot of a procurement
that spanned 17 years in support of the Boeing/Lockheed Martin/U.S.
Air Force team.
Aerojet F-22 Forward Boom Manufacturing
The forward boom is a structural component providing wing,
engine and horizontal tail attach points to carry much of the F-22
aft fuselage load. Using the EB weld process, Aerojet joins
numerous titanium components together into a single monolithic
structure meeting precise tolerances. The EB welding process allows
the airframe design to merge complex features into a single
component. This significantly reduces the need for fasteners,
reduces weight, simplifies assembly and lowers cost. The reduction
in fasteners also means fewer openings for possible fuel leaks.
Aerojet has been under contract to The Boeing Company on the
F-22 Raptor air dominance fighter program since 1993 and has
delivered 394 booms. The company was honored by Boeing as its
Supplier of the Year in 2005 and 2007, and its gold and silver
supplier for 2009 and 2010. "Our success is a testament to the
skill, hard work and diligence that our employees put into this
program," says Michael Magpayo, director of F-22 and Advanced
Structures programs. "Congratulations go to all of our employees
for their outstanding work and dedication over the past 17 years.
They've really taken our philosophy of Operational Excellence,
professionalism, dedication and teamwork to heart and have gone
above and beyond for this program."
Aerojet says its success on the program is largely due to its EB
welding technologies, which are capable of producing large welded
structures, including full penetration welds of complex geometry
with varying thickness and profile in a single pass. This
capability can accommodate parts that fit in an envelope of 11 x 7
x 7 feet or larger, depending on the configuration. With a chamber
size of 138" x 150" x 185," Aerojet's EB Welder is one of the
largest in North America. The company estimates that since contract
inception, it has produced more than seven miles of EB weld on the
Forward Boom.
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