Moncton’s Apex Industries has joined the F-35 Lightning II team. On Monday, Lockheed Martin announced a multi-year contract for structural parts that span the forward fuselage and wing.

The contract is one of 34 that Lockheed Martin has with Canadian companies for the Joint Strike Fighter program worth approximately $500 million. Lockheed estimates that total could reach over $11 billion for Canadian industry if the government follows through on its original plan to purchase 65 of the fighter jets.

“Apex’s contribution will be substantial F-35 machining work which is extremely important as the program continues to grow,” said Keith Knotts, Lockheed Martin’s director of F-35 business development in Canada.

Apex, which has 225 employees in New Brunswick, also supports various other aerospace customers, including Boeing Defense, Bell Helicopter, and Bombardier.