Jet maker grows local division

PINELLAS PARK — Lockheed Martin has opened a new 57,000-square-foot manufacturing facility for its Pinellas Park operation to produce aircraft canopy components for the F-35 Lighting II fighter.

The new facility is an annex to Lockheed Martin's existing 197,000-square-foot manufacturing building that has been producing structural components for more than 10 different aircraft since 1997.

The operation started with 80 employees and has since grown to a work force of 250, with additional jobs expected as the F-35 program moves toward peak production. To date, the facility has produced components for the C-130J, F-22, F-16, C-5, P-3 and F-35 aircraft. The expanded facility can support production of up to 20 F-35 canopy units a month.