Honeywell Aerospace Technologies and Aeronamic have activated a dedicated sustainment test cell for the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Power and Thermal Management System (PTMS) at a facility in the Netherlands, eliminating the need to outsource post-repair testing for European operators.

Announced in an October 2026 press release, the delivery of the Modular Test Cell (MTC) to Aeronamic’s Woensdrecht site, which is co-located with the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF), completes a multi-year effort to establish localized repair capabilities for the European F-35 fleet.

Localizing European F-35 sustainment

The activation of the MTC allows Aeronamic to perform full turbomachine testing post-repair. Previously, Acceptance Test Procedure (ATP) testing had to be outsourced, adding logistical complexity and transit time to the European supply chain.

During the project’s development phase, Aeronamic logistics and supply chain representative Kick noted that adapting the test cell from United States regulations to European standards was a significant undertaking requiring close collaboration with the RNLAF and Honeywell. The successful installation now allows the facility to handle the complete repair and testing cycle in-house.

Matt Milas, president of Defense and Space at Honeywell Aerospace Technologies, stated that the company’s support for the joint strike fighter program dates back more than 20 years to its initial conceptualization.

“We are able to leverage our extensive experience, resources, and technical capabilities to meet current and future warfighter needs,” Milas said.

The path to depot activation

The October 2026 activation in the Netherlands follows a broader, systematic effort by Honeywell, Lockheed Martin, and the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) to establish regional repair capabilities globally. Honeywell began supporting depot activation for the PTMS at Fleet Readiness Center East (FRC-E) in North Carolina in 2011.

Between 2016 and 2023, the manufacturer transferred repair capabilities for various PTMS components, including fuel controls, valves, pumps, fans, controllers, and heat exchangers, to the US government depot at FRC-E.

For the European region, Honeywell successfully transferred PTMS turbomachine repair capabilities to Aeronamic in 2022. Aeronamic subsequently completed official audits and transitioned from the project phase to the operational phase for F-35 maintenance in April 2024. The delivery of the MTC, originally targeted for late 2025 or 2026, represents the culmination of the European depot activation. Honeywell is currently pursuing similar opportunities to establish PTMS repair and test capabilities in Australia to support the Asia-Pacific region.

Block 4 modernization and PTMS upgrades

The F-35 PTMS is a highly integrated system that combines the functions of an auxiliary power unit, emergency power unit, environmental control system, and thermal management system. It performs 14 mission and safety-critical functions, including cooling the cockpit, providing pilot oxygen, and supplying emergency power to flight controls.

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According to Honeywell, the PTMS turbomachine has proven over one million flight hours, with the system installed on approximately 1,200 delivered F-35 aircraft as of mid-2025.

The F-35 program is currently navigating complex upgrade requirements to support Block 4 modernization, which demands significantly more cooling capacity than the original design parameters. Honeywell is actively pitching software and hardware upgrades to the existing PTMS to boost cooling capacity to 80 kilowatts.

Rich DeGraff, president of Control Systems at Honeywell Aerospace Technologies, argued that upgrading the current system avoids the high integration risks associated with developing a clean-sheet replacement system.

“Upgrading our proven PTMS is the smart choice for domestic and international taxpayers and warfighters,” DeGraff said. “We’re delivering a solution that saves over $7 billion in development, production, retrofit, and sustainment.”

AirPro News analysis

We view the activation of the Aeronamic test cell as a strategic maneuver by Honeywell to solidify its incumbent position on the F-35 program. As the F-35 JPO evaluates whether to upgrade the existing PTMS or procure a clean-sheet replacement to meet Block 4 cooling demands, Honeywell is demonstrating that its global sustainment network is already mature and operational. Establishing localized, sovereign repair capabilities in Europe provides a tangible logistical advantage that a new competitor would take years and significant capital to replicate.

By emphasizing the estimated $7 billion cost avoidance and the elimination of transatlantic supply chain bottlenecks, Honeywell is framing its upgraded PTMS not just as a technical solution, but as the lowest-risk path for international fleet readiness. The Woensdrecht facility serves as a physical proof point of that readiness for European partner nations.

Lockheed Martin has secured a Direct Commercial Sale contract with the Philippine Department of National Defense (DND) to deliver the first-ever S-70i Black Hawk training simulator suite, enabling domestic pilot and maintenance instruction for the country’s growing rotary-wing fleet.

Announced in an October 8, 2026, press release, the agreement provides the Philippine Air Force (PAF) with a Full Flight Simulator, a Virtual Maintenance Trainer, and associated courseware. The contract also guarantees sustainment and spares support for the training equipment through 2032.

Transitioning to domestic training capabilities

The procurement marks the first global order for Lockheed Martin’s S-70i Black Hawk training devices. The Full Flight Simulator operates as a digital twin training system designed to replicate the exact flight characteristics and systems of the aircraft. Alongside it, the Virtual Maintenance Trainer utilizes physics-based models of airframe subsystems to instruct ground crews on maintenance procedures.

Until this domestic simulator becomes operational, Philippine pilots must rely on overseas training facilities, including the Sikorsky Training Academy in the United States. Establishing a local simulator reduces the operator’s reliance on external availability and allows the PAF to integrate training directly into its own operational schedule.

Tim James, Vice President of Air and Commercial Solutions at Lockheed Martin, stated that the contract award represents a long-term investment in the mission readiness of the PAF.

“It’s a privilege to partner with the Philippine Air Force with a suite of systems to support their training requirements as they grow their fleet of S-70i Black Hawk Helicopters,” James said.

Expanding the Philippine Black Hawk fleet

The Philippine Air Force has rapidly expanded its S-70i Black Hawk fleet to replace older utility helicopters. The aircraft are heavily utilized across the archipelago for search and rescue, humanitarian aid, firefighting, and troop transport, particularly during disaster response operations following typhoons.

The Asia-Pacific initially acquired 15 S-70i Black Hawks. On February 22, 2022, the Philippine DND signed a follow-on contract for 32 additional aircraft. These helicopters are manufactured by PZL Mielec, a Lockheed Martin company based in Poland.

Deliveries under the 2022 contract have been progressing steadily. Lockheed Martin announced the delivery of 10 S-70i Black Hawks to the Philippines on January 16, 2025, followed by five additional helicopters on August 18, 2025. Once all deliveries are completed, the Philippines will operate 47 S-70i helicopters, making it the largest operator of this specific variant in the world.

AirPro News analysis

The procurement of dedicated, in-country simulation infrastructure reflects the maturation of the Philippine Air Force rotary-wing modernization program. By shifting from overseas instruction to domestic training, the operator can accelerate pilot throughput to match its rapid fleet expansion. This move insulates the readiness pipeline from international scheduling bottlenecks and ensures that training can continue uninterrupted during periods of high operational tempo, such as regional disaster response efforts.

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On October 8, 2026, Saab AB and GKN Aerospace signed a long-term agreement to expand their cooperation on the propulsion system for the Saab JAS 39 Gripen E/F fighter aircraft, localizing critical engine support within Sweden.

Announced in a Saab press release, the partnership establishes GKN Aerospace as the preferred provider of engine services for the Gripen E/F platform. The agreement directly responds to a recent Swedish Government directive aimed at strengthening domestic industrial capacity and national defense capabilities, while also bolstering Saab’s international export campaigns.

Expanding domestic engine capabilities

The agreement tasks both companies with jointly creating the conditions to enhance Sweden’s national capability regarding the Gripen E/F engine. Moving forward, GKN Aerospace will progressively assume a greater role in engine-related matters for the program, providing expanded expertise, capacity, and technical support.

Johan Segertoft, Head of the Gripen Business Unit at Saab, stated that the agreement lays the foundation for establishing GKN Aerospace as the company’s partner in engine-related matters. Segertoft noted that the Gripen program is built on strong industrial partnerships.

“For Saab, being able to contribute to strengthening Sweden’s fighter aircraft capability and domestic industrial capacity is of utmost importance,” Segertoft said.

Sara Eklöf, Senior Vice President of Governmental Solutions for Defence and Space at GKN Aerospace, highlighted the technical complexity of the platform. Eklöf stated that the agreement expands the supplier’s role in supporting the long-term development of the propulsion system for what she described as one of the world’s most advanced fighter aircraft systems.

The RM16 powerplant and GKN’s maintenance history

The Saab JAS 39 Gripen is a light single-engine multirole fighter. The older Gripen C/D variants are powered by the RM12 engine, for which GKN Aerospace serves as the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and holds the military type certificate.

The newer Gripen E/F variants utilize the RM16 engine. The RM16 is a derivative of the General Electric F414 aero-engine, the same powerplant used in the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.

In 2020, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) selected GKN Aerospace to provide product support, maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services for the RM16 engine. This initial selection was designed to utilize synergies between the existing RM12 infrastructure and the new RM16 platforms. The October 8 agreement builds upon this foundation, formalizing GKN Aerospace’s expanded role in the lifecycle of the newer engine variant.

Export campaigns and international production

While the agreement focuses heavily on domestic industrial capacity, Saab emphasized that deepening the collaboration with GKN Aerospace strengthens the platform’s competitive offering in the global market. Saab, which employs approximately 29,000 people, is actively pursuing international export campaigns for the Gripen E/F.

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The engine support agreement follows a major milestone for the aircraft’s international production footprint. On October 6, 2026, the first Saab JAS 39 Gripen E manufactured outside of Sweden completed its maiden flight. The aircraft departed from Embraer‘s Gavião Peixoto aerodrome in São Paulo State, Brazil.

This flight marked a key step in Saab’s technology transfer program with Embraer and the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). The aircraft is the first of 15 scheduled to be produced in Brazil under the current technology transfer program.

AirPro News analysis

We view this agreement as a necessary step for Sweden to insulate its defense supply chain against geopolitical volatility. By localizing RM16 engine support with GKN Aerospace, Saab and the Swedish Government are reducing reliance on external maintenance networks for a critical national defense asset. Guaranteeing robust, localized lifecycle support for the propulsion system also provides Saab with a stronger value proposition when pitching the Gripen E/F to prospective export customers who demand sovereign maintenance capabilities.