BAE Systems switches on $20 million machine to make tail parts for Joint Strike Fighter aircraft A new Lockheed Martin Joint Strike Fighter engages its vertical propulsion systems over Chesapeake Bay, near the US Naval Air Station at Patuxent River, Maryland. A HI-TECH machine to make tail parts for Joint Strike Fighter aircraft is expected to produce 20,000 components over the next two decades. The $20 million machine, the only one of its type in the Southern Hemisphere, was switched on this morning at Edinburgh. Based at BAE Systems, at Edinburgh Parks, the Starrag BTP5000 is expected to pump out more than 20,000 titanium aircraft tail parts over the next 20 years. BAE Systems chief executive David Allott said the machine could also produce parts for commercial aircraft and marine vessels and the company was in discussions with US businesses about expanding its output. Premier Jay Weatherill switched on the machine this morning. The general manager of defence industry attraction and development for Defence SA, Fred Eske, with a model of a Joint Strike Fighter plane. BAE systems are making interior components for the tail of the jet. He told assembled defence representatives the industry was crucial to maintaining a manufacturing base in SA. He said many of the innovations made by new defence technology eventually trickled down into the car manufacturing sector. The State Government committed $10 million towards building the Starrag BTP5000. It weighs 200 tonnes, was shipped to Edinburgh Parks in 23 containers and took six months to assemble on site. Premier Jay Weatherill turns on the new Starrag BTP 5000 - to begin making the Joint Strike Fighter parts. Picture: Tait Schmaal The technology enables machining of 4.5m pieces of titanium and is precise to within 30 microns, or half the width of a human hair. It will start producing parts in January. There are about 30 people working with the machine but Mr Allott said that number would likely grow.