The F-35 Lighting II joint strike fighter (JSF) programme will receive horizontal tail components for the third lot of low-rate initial production (LRIP) from Magellan Aerospace.

The announcement was made at this year’s Paris Air Show held in Le Bourget.

The JSF programme to develop and manufacture the next-generation fighter will be supported by the US Air Force and eight US allies that intend to purchase the fighter once successfully developed.

The initial $11m, two-year contract for the tail components awarded by BAE Systems will be followed by production of up to 1,038 ship sets over the life span of the JSF programme.

The tail components will be manufactured for the conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) variant of the F-35 to be used by the US Air Force.

In future, Magellan will be producing components for half the total CTOLs produced each year.