Quickstep Completes Production Readiness Tests for C-130J Contract

Quickstep Holdings Ltd., the Australian manufacturer of high-grade carbon-fiber composite components, has completed all qualification tasks required by Lockheed Martin’s materials and process technical engineering testing program. This confirms Quickstep’s readiness to manufacture high-quality composite parts for the Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules aircraft.

 

The qualification test results include the successful fabrication of destructive test articles using Lockheed Martin’s approved production processes.

 

Quickstep managing director, Philippe Odouard says: “The successful completion of qualification tests is a milestone which confirms that Quickstep is able to meet the exact manufacturing needs of our C-130J contract. This is an important step as we prepare to manufacture and deliver composite carbon-fiber wing flaps for Lockheed Martin.”

 

Quickstep has already started to manufacture the wing flaps at its Bankstown (Sydney) Airport facility, and deliveries are expected to begin during the 2013/14 financial year as planned in the contract. The company’s overall agreement with Lockheed Martin is expected to generate revenues of US$75 million to US$100 million for Quickstep over five years.

 

The C-130 aircraft is the longest continuously operating military aircraft production in history and nations that are operating or have ordered the C-130J include Australia, Canada, Denmark, India, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Kuwait, Norway, Oman, Republic of Korea, Qatar, the United Kingdom and the United States.