Tampa Bay’s defense industrial base powers warfighter with F-35 leading the way

The pursuit of ever-greater technology fuels innovation across several markets. That is especially true in aerospace, where advancements are literally taking us to new heights.

For more than 65 years, TRAK TECOM has specialized in designing highly differentiated RF assemblies and defense and SATCOM antenna systems for the most demanding military and aerospace applications. TRAK TECOM’s dedication to innovation is evident in the pinnacle of fifth-generation warfighting: the F-35 Lightning II.

TRAK TECOM is a small company located in Tampa, but our impact is global. Our engineers develop advanced RF microwave assemblies, circulators, multichannel switch filter banks, low-silhouette blade antennas, Ku/Ka SATCOM antennas, up/down converters and other critical technologies that give the F-35 its fighting edge.

These are not peripheral components. They are central to the aircraft’s ability to communicate, share data and maintain situational awareness in contested environments. Simply put, TRAK TECOM’s work translates directly to operational capability in the field, where reliability is not optional.

Much like the technologies we deliver enable the F-35’s interoperability across the battlespace, the F-35 program itself serves as a powerful connector, uniting a supply chain of nearly 1,900 businesses nationwide.

Florida stands at the center of this effort. More than 160 of those businesses are based in our state, supporting more than 30,000 jobs and generating an estimated $23 billion in economic impact. In the Tampa Bay region, the F-35 and its associated supply chain generate a $150 million annual economic impact and more than 700 direct jobs, including dozens of small businesses and veteran-owned suppliers.

This is a clear demonstration that the F-35 program brings far more than manufacturers together. It strengthens communities, fuels local economies and reinforces our national security.

Florida’s commitment to supporting the defense industrial base is not abstract. It is tangible, visible and essential. From Tampa to other key hubs across the state, companies like TRAK TECOM are investing in advanced manufacturing, engineering talent and innovation that directly supports the U.S. military and its allies. This ecosystem ensures America maintains not only technological superiority but also the industrial depth required to sustain it.

The F-35 connects us with our allies, creating a global network of state-of-the-art fifth-generation warfighters using American-made technology. Nineteen nations have partnered with the United States to purchase and field the F-35, strengthening interoperability and collective defense. Recent coverage of Israeli F-35 operations underscores what this platform delivers in real-world combat: precision, survivability and dominance.

At the heart of that success is the F-35’s ability to quarterback the battlespace, relaying critical information across platforms and alliances in real time. This capability depends on the seamless operation of the systems behind it, including the RF and communications technologies developed and manufactured by companies such as TRAK TECOM.

We see this edge in combat today, as the F-35 maintains clear lines of communication while evading threats under its stealth cloak.

It is an architecture designed for modernization. It can integrate new technologies as they are developed, ensuring the aircraft remains effective against emerging threats for decades to come. But that adaptability depends on sustained production and modernization funding, as well as a strong, responsive industrial base ready to deliver the next generation of capability.

For members of Congress tasked with overseeing defense investments, the F-35 represents a program where national security priorities and economic strength reinforce one another. Continued support ensures that American forces and our allies maintain access to the world’s most advanced capabilities while sustaining thousands of high-skilled manufacturing jobs across the country, including in Florida.

At TRAK TECOM, our employees take immense pride in knowing their work directly supports the warfighter. They are part of the arsenal of freedom, designing and delivering the technologies that help keep our pilots safe and our missions successful.

As our adversaries are experiencing in real time, there is no better asset for securing our skies than the F-35 Lightning II and no stronger partner in that mission than the American defense industrial base, with Florida — and Tampa Bay — leading from the front.

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Jennifer Cruise is a MarCom Manager for TRAK TECOM.