NGC Delivers 1,500th F-35 Lightning II Center Fuselage

January 12, 2026

Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) has reached a significant milestone in factory automation and advanced manufacturing technologies by delivering the 1,500th center fuselage for the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter from its Integrated Assembly Line (IAL) in Palmdale, California, with speed and precision.  

Using advanced manufacturing technologies, the IAL delivers one center fuselage every 30 hours and seamlessly produces center fuselages for all three F-35 variants on a single production line.
The use of augmented reality and virtual reality (AR/VR) tools on the IAL led to a 35 percent reduction in center fuselage assembly time and a 20 percent reduction in technician learning curve. 

Details on Northrop Grumman’s F-35 Role: 

• Northrop Grumman is a principal partner and teammate on the F-35 Lightning II industry team, which is developing, producing and sustaining three variants of this stealthy, supersonic, multirole fighter aircraft.  
• Northrop Grumman also produces the F-35’s AN/APG-81 AESA radar, the integrated communication, navigation, identification (CNI) system, wing skins and leads the industry team in low observable technologies.  
• The company also provides sustainment support for the F-35 fleet to U.S. and international customers.

Source : Northrop Grumman Corporation