A STATE-of-the-art production line for the assembly of tails for the F-35 fighter is up and running at BAE Systems' Samlesbury site.

The defence giant, which employs thousands of workers in East Lancashire, is ramping up production of the stealthy jet from one per week to one per day by 2016, using the new Integrated Assembly Line (IAL).

And the revolutionary monorail system will see horizontal and vertical tails 'pulse' down the line at a rate of one completed set every day. The first tails belong to aircraft AF57, a conventional take-off and landing F-35 built for the USA.

The new line, or empennage as it is referred to, is built on the same principles as the rear fuselage line and allows more units to be produced more efficiently than before.

It is the latest stage in the transformation of the Samlesbury facility where the rear fuselage, horizontal tails and vertical tails are produced.

Parts for the Eurofighter Typhoon are also made at BAE Samlesbury and Warton.

Andy Higgins, who runs the facility, said: “The empennage line is a major step forward in the transformation of this facility.

“Since we opened an extension to the facility, doubling its size to 18,300m in March 2012, we’ve maintained our commitments to deliver against a demanding production schedule whilst, at the same time, developing and implementing new manufacturing techniques.

“The team has done a remarkable job to make the transition happen smoothly.”

The F-35 Lightning II programme involves around 500 companies in the UK, employing thousands of workers.