Co-Bot Cuts F-35 Assembly Fastening from Hours to Minutes

Northrop Grumman’s new co-bot has been rolled out at Lockheed Martin’s F‑35 Lightning II assembly line, a move announced on September 30. The robot takes over the repetitive fastening tasks that once required skilled technicians to spend hours each day. By automating this labor‑intensive step, the co‑bot is expected to slash the time needed for the task from hours to minutes, freeing technicians to focus on higher‑value work. The partnership illustrates how defense manufacturers are adopting collaborative robots to boost productivity and reduce cycle times on complex aircraft production lines. While the exact productivity gains are still being measured, the shift signals a broader trend toward automation in aerospace manufacturing.