Photo shows the tail hook of the U.S. Navy’s E-2D aircraft. (Photo: Business Wire)
The company becomes the sole provider of the mission-critical welding process
BAY SHORE, N.Y.—Air Industries Group reported that, in conjunction with a major OEM customer, it has secured the welding equipment, related tooling, and peripheral equipment used to weld the arresting gear that secures the E-2D aircraft’s tail hook. This machinery is the only equipment currently certified to weld the arresting gear, the company said in a release. The tail hook is essential for landing on aircraft carriers.
“With the addition of the arresting gear welding equipment, Air Industries will become the sole provider in our industry of a mission-critical welding process for the E-2D platform,” said Lou Melluzzo, CEO of Air Industries, in the release. “This action will not only secure our position as a key supplier to a major aircraft program, but will also form the basis for an expanding portfolio of special processes to include welding capabilities.”
The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is a carrier-based, battle-management aircraft, the “digital quarterback” that manages the airspace and keeps carrier battle groups out of harm’s way. It is the cornerstone of the U.S. Navy theater air and missile defense architecture in the littorals, overland, and open sea operations. The E-2D aircraft is still in production, and approximately 65 E-2Ds are active in the fleet, which is forecast to expand by more than 40 percent to 93 aircraft in 2027, according to the release.
“The importance of the E-2D to our nation’s defense posture—and to Air Industries’ growth—cannot be over-stated,” Melluzzo said. “For many years, our company has supplied landing gear, arresting gear, hooks, and other products for this platform. Our E-2D product backlog is close to $20 million, or 29 percent of our total backlog. Also, many of the products we manufacture for this aircraft besides the full landing gear are ‘consumables’ that must be regularly replaced based on usage. The welding equipment enhances our partnership with the manufacturer, and with after-market suppliers supporting the E-2D program.”
Melluzzo also noted, “Welding complements the vertical integration of other processes such as painting, which Air Industries has recently brought in-house, in a strategy designed to shorten production times and reduce costs.”
Air Industries Group is an integrated manufacturer of precision assemblies and components for leading aerospace and defense prime contractors and original equipment manufacturers. The company is a Tier 1 supplier to aircraft OEMs, a Tier 2 subcontractor to major Tier 1 manufacturers, and a prime contractor to the U.S. Department of Defense.