Lockheed Martin expands facility for F-35 component manufacturing in Pinellas Park, Fla.

Lockheed Martin’s operation in Pinellas Park officially opened a new 57,000 ft² manufacturing facility, to produce aircraft canopy components for the F-35 Lighting II fighter.The new facility is an annex to Lockheed Martin’s existing 197,000 ft² building that has been producing structural components for more than 10 different types of aircraft since 1997. The operation began with 80 employees and has since grown to its current workforce of 250, with additional jobs expected as the F-35 program moves toward peak production. The expanded facility can support production of up to 20 F-35 canopy units a month.