Software Facilitates Faster Production of F135 Component

Third Wave Systems (Minneapolis, Minnesota) says it has manufactured an F-135 engine component 2.4 times faster than the baseline standard using its physics-based process optimization software. The machining demonstration was conducted as part of the company’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase III program, which is supported by the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Naval Air Systems Command.

“Perhaps the most exciting aspect of this activity is that we haven’t maxed out the software’s potential,” says Kerry Marusich, company president. “Once this technology is fully adopted by Department of Defense manufacturers and their suppliers, users can optimize every component in the F135 and F136 programs, drastically reducing delivery risk and improving affordability.”