Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) delivered the first replacement wing for the United States Air Force (USAF) T-38 aircraft.
In a ceremony held at IAI’s main campus, the T-38 wing was presented to the DCMA (defence Contract Management Agency) Commander Lieutenant Colonel Allen Garrison.
The ceremony marked IAI’s successful completion of the first phase of the T-38 wing program, and the beginning of the serial production phase.
With the USAF decision to continue operating the T-38 aircraft, potential orders under the contract between the USAF and IAI could reach over 200 sets of T-38 wings.
The first IAI replacement wing milestone marks the successful results of a challenging process which included reverse engineering and having to transform the original T-38 drawings into advanced 3-D models. These efforts were achieved by IAI with the support and close cooperation of the USAF T-38 Program Office.
IAI has over 30 years’ experience in producing major assemblies for military aircraft, and is proud to support the United States Air Force. IAI’s president and CEO, Mr. Joseph Weiss, said: “as a world leading center of excellence for aerostructures and wings production, IAI is proud to supply wings for the T-38, F-16 and F-35 aircraft. We are honored to provide the USAF with the T-38 replacement wings and look forward to further expand the close relationship between the USAF and IAI for additional, exciting opportunities.”
“I am delighted to be asked to accept the delivery of the T-38 new wing manufactured at IAI for the United States Air Force (USAF),” said Commander Lieutenant Colonel Allen Garrison, DCMA representative. “As the primary USAF trainer aircraft, the T-38 is a very critical piece of the training of our future pilots. I look forward to accepting many more wings for the Air Force. I thank IAI for their teamwork and continued partnership between our two countries that will have a lasting impact.”
