Survitec have been providing Pilot Flight Equipment to the US F35 Lightning II Program since 2003/4, following competitive tender activity. This was seen as a huge achievement for a UK based company to be selected ahead of United States competitors, at the time. The latest contract, received in June 2017, calls for over 3,000 garments to be manufactured for the Warfighter entering the training program. Survitec have personnel co-located with other key F35 stakeholders at three US locations to date, with a fourth planned to open in 2018. Additionally, there are further facilities outside of the United States at international partner locations being discussed.
This multi-million-dollar contract is particularly important for jobs at the Survitec Manufacturing facility at Sharon Center, Ohio where all garments are handmade and 100% Berry compliant. A new contracting model, pioneered by Survitec is set to go live; transforming how equipment gets to the pilot. This will reduce equipment lead-times, minimise downtime and most importantly overcome cumbersome contracting as well. Survitec has been working on this project for four years but Survitec’s Perfect Fit solution will soon be a reality.