Japan’s Ministry of Defense has selected Goodrich Corporation to supply six different flight control surfaces for its fleet of F-15 tactical fighters. The components will be manufactured by Goodrich using its patented GRID-LOCK(R) structural technology. GRID-LOCK(R) components are fabricated using an innovative method of joining machined structural components to make strong and lightweight parts out of a few interlocking pieces.

GRID-LOCK(R) flight control surfaces will provide Japan’s Ministry of Defense with improved life cycle cost, durability and corrosion resistance compared with existing bonded aluminum honeycomb flight control surfaces,” said Goodrich Aerostructures Military Business Development Manager Mark Meserve. “We currently manufacture 10 different GRID-LOCK(R) components for the U.S. Air Force, which has retrofitted about three-quarters of its fleet of about 700 F-15s with this technology.”

Japan’s Ministry of Defense owns approximately 200 F-15s. The Boeing F-15 Eagle is the world’s leading dual-role fighter,performing air-to-ground and air-to-air missions.