Northrop Grumman says robotics cut F-35 avionics assembly task from hours to minutes while AI expands production quality checks

Northrop Grumman has reduced a bolt-installation task on its F-35 Communications, Navigation and Identification module production line from hours to minutes using a collaborative robot. The company is also expanding AI-based quality-control tools that inspect completed modules and flag potential defects before shipment. Northrop Grumman said the changes improve speed, precision and repeatability and allow personnel to be reassigned to other production tasks. The company is extending similar automation and AI-driven inspection approaches to additional parts of the F-35 production process.