A35-003 is the first Australian JSF to receive and Australian-made vertical tail. AF-73 was the first JSF to receive a Marand vertical tail, with the aircraft taking to the skies on 17 July 2015. Lockheed Martin chief test pilot Alan Norman flew the sortie lasting 84 minutes.

The F-35 vertical tail work, contracted to Marand by BAE Systems, is one of the largest manufacturing projects for the Australian F-35 program, with 722 ship sets planned.

Marand are the second source of supply for approximately a third of the global vertical tails for the F-35A conventional takeoff and landing variant. Marand is a subcontractor for BAE Systems in Samlesbury, England, who is the other source of supply.

Marand also designs and produces F-35 engine lift and removal trailers, produces tooling for F-35 manufacturers and makes full scale F-35 trainers.

Australia's Head Joint Strike Fighter Air Vice-Marshal Leigh Gordon told Defence's Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group that Australia is performing well in a tough global market.

"Affordability is a top priority for the F-35 program and this means industry has to be at the forefront of innovation and efficiency to keep receiving work," said AVM Leigh Gordon.

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"Examples like this prove that Australian industry has the capacity and capability to provide overseas customers value and reliability.

"More than 50 Australian companies have shared in more than $800 million in production contracts to date, with hundreds more Australian companies who are indirectly benefiting through supply chain work.

"Between June 2016 and June 2017 the value of Australian F-35 production contracts overall increased by 24 per cent."

Australia’s first two F-35A aircraft are currently operating at the international F-35A Pilot Training Centre at Luke Air Force Base Arizona.

Australia’s next eight F-35A are in various stages of production at Lockheed Martin’s production facility in Fort Worth, Texas.