Quickstep, the manufacturer of high-grade carbon-fibre composite components, today announced that it has completed all qualification tasks required by Lockheed Martin's materials and process technical engineering testing program. This confirms Quickstep's readiness to manufacture high quality composite parts for the Lockheed Martin C-130J 'Hercules' aircraft.

The qualification test results include the successful fabrication of destructive test articles using Lockheed Martin's approved production processes.

Quickstep managing director, Philippe Odouard said: “The successful completion of qualification tests is a milestone which confirms that Quickstep is able to meet the exact manufacturing needs of our C-130J contract. This is an important step as we prepare to manufacture anddeliver composite carbon-fibre wing flaps for Lockheed Martin.”

Quickstep has already started to manufacture the wing flaps at its Bankstown Airport facility, and deliveries are expected to begin during the 2013/14 financial year as planned in the contract. The company's overall agreement with Lockheed Martin is expected to generate revenues of $US75 million to $US100 million for Quickstep over five years.

The C-130 aircraft is the longest continuously operating military aircraft production in history and nations that are operating or have ordered the C-130J include Australia, Canada, Denmark, India, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Kuwait, Norway, Oman, Republic of Korea, Qatar, the United Kingdom and the United States.