Asco unveils the first F-35 A horizontal tail fully manufactured in Belgium as part of the BeLightning consortium
Montana Aerospace AG, a leading manufacturer of system components and complex assemblies for the aerospace industry, has achieved a significant milestone in its international defense business. Its Belgian subsidiary, Asco Industries, together with partners SABCA and Sonaca, has completed the first horizontal tail for the F-35A fighter aircraft that was entirely manufactured in Belgium. The first assembled horizontal tail was unveiled during the inauguration of Belgium’s first assembly line for this component, attended by representatives of the Belgian government, Belgian defense as well as US and UK diplomatic missions, highlighting the close collaboration between industry and public stakeholders.
The program was developed by Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems and the Belgian industrial consortium BeLightning, which combines the capabilities of Asco, SABCA, and Sonaca. The assemblies will be incorporated into the global F-35 supplier network, making them part of one of the world’s most significant defense programs. This project highlights Montana Aerospace’s growing importance in the global defense market and confirms Asco’s role as a long-standing strategic partner of Lockheed Martin within the F-35 program.
Asco has been part of the Montana Aerospace Group since 2022 and is a leading manufacturer of high precision structural assemblies and high-lift components for civil and military aviation programs. The company produces mission-critical titanium and hard-alloy components with precision tolerances measured in the thickness of a human hair. Components must meet the highest requirements for structural strength, weight optimization, and quality. Through its expertise, Asco contributes to some of the world’s most demanding aerospace programs. Within the BeLightning consortium, Asco is responsible for manufacturing the complete metallic structure of the F-35 horizontal tail.
This milestone builds on a long-standing collaboration between Asco and Lockheed Martin. For nearly two decades, Asco has supplied structural components for the F-35 program and has established itself as a reliable partner within one of the most demanding global aerospace supply chains. This latest milestone expands that collaboration into a new dimension of high added industrial value.
Jérôme Morhet, CEO from Asco Industries emphasizes “The completion of the first F-35 horizontal tail fully manufactured in Belgium is far more than an industrial milestone. It demonstrates that Belgian companies are capable of jointly playing a central role in one of the world’s most technologically demanding aerospace and defense programs. For Asco, this project is the result of nearly two decades of experience in the F-35 program, combined with the innovation and precision of our teams. Together with our partners, we are demonstrating how industrial excellence, long-term trust, and international cooperation can create sustainable value for customers, industry, and national security interests.”
For Montana Aerospace, the project represents further evidence of the successful implementation of its growth strategy in the aerospace sector.
Press photo
© Belightning / Sonaca
Representatives from government and industry at the inauguration ceremony of the first horizontal tail at of Sonaca’s assembly facility, including Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, Minister of Defence Theo Francken, Walloon Minister-President Adrien Dolimont, Walloon Vice-President Pierre-Yves Jeholet, and senior executives from Asco, Sabca, Sonaca and BeLightning.