Quickstep Holdings Ltd. (North Coogee, Western Australia) announced on March 20 that it has been awarded a subcontract to support advanced composites fabricator Vector Composites (Dayton, Ohio) for a second Phase I U.S Department of Defense (DoD) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), also located in Dayton. The research effort will focus on the development of an out-of-autoclave processing cycle that can be used with a qualified high-temperature bismaleimide/carbon fiber prepreg system used by the U.S. Air Force on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program. Australia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the Production, Sustainment and Follow-on Development stages of the JSF Program in December 2006, providing a cooperative framework for the acquisition and support of the JSF, while providing large opportunities for Australian industries to participate. Commenting on the subcontract award, Quickstep’s managing director, Philippe Odouard, said, “The R&D contract is in keeping with Quickstep’s objective of winning work within the JSF manufacturing program, utilizing the company’s patented composites manufacturing technology.”