Newcastle Airport is set to become the regional hub for maintaining F-35A Lightning II aircraft as the federal government greenlights an aircraft coating facility on the east coast.<\/p>
Australia\u2019s first dedicated coating facility, specialising in applying stealth paint to the aircraft, will be built in partnership with BAE Systems<\/a> Australia and responsible for the maintenance, repair, overhaul, and upgrade activities for Australia\u2019s fleet of 72 F-35A aircraft.<\/p> It is expected the design of the coating facility will be finalised by the end of this year, with construction expected to start around mid-2024 at a total expected cost of more than $100 million.<\/p> \u201cThis is a vote of confidence in the Hunter that ensures these world-class aircraft will operate and be sustained from Newcastle Airport for decades to come,\u201d said Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy.<\/p> \u201cThe Hunter community can be proud to be playing a vital role in sustaining this critical defence capability not only for Australia, but also for our region.<\/p>