Lockheed Martin extends Cytec contract for F-35 prepreg

Cytec Industries Inc. (Woodland Park, N.J., USA) announced on April 21 that its Engineered Materials business had signed a contract extension, covering the period from 2016 to 2020, with Lockheed Martin (Ft. Worth, Texas, USA) for the supply of high-performance, structural composite and adhesive materials used in the manufacture of the multinational F-35 Lightning II program, or Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).

Cytec expects the contract extension to generate revenues of approximately $1.1 billion. 

The stealthy F-35 is a supersonic, multi-role fifth-generation fighter designed to replace AV-8B Harriers, A-10s, F-16s, F/A-18 Hornets and United Kingdom Harrier GR.7s and Sea Harriers. The JSF is approximately 42 percent composite by weight.



Cytec supplies more than 50 products to the JSF program including CYCOM 5250-4, a bismaleimide (BMI) prepreg system known for performance-enhancing capability at high temperatures; CYCOM 977-3, a toughened epoxy resin prepreg system; and FM 309-1, a lightning strike protection surfacing film. 


"Building on our long history of success on military programs such as the F/A-18E/F & G, F-22, C-17 and Global Hawk, Cytec’s scientists and engineers worked closely with Lockheed Martin and its subcontractors to develop engineered material solutions to meet the JSF program’s extremely demanding requirements," said Bill Wood, president of Cytec’s Engineered Materials business unit. "Through a collaborative approach, these solutions have been optimized to provide the right balance of performance and affordability. Cytec innovations are among several technologies enabling the exponential leap in fighter aircraft capabilities."