Pentagon Issues $1.14B for F-35 Supplies

Lockheed Martin has picked up a $1.14-billion modification to a previously assigned contract for purchasing long-lead materials for a total of 198 F-35 aircraft. The Pentagon announcement of the award indicated it anticipates production of 65 jets for Lot 20 and 133 for Lot 21.

However, no firm contract for those aircraft has been settled. The current award is intended to avoid program delays due to sourcing of materials, components, and systems once the Pentagon and Lockheed arrive at an agreement.

Once production is agreed, the work will be performed at multiple Lockheed locations in the U.S. and one in England. The project is scheduled for completion in December 2030.

In fact, it was only in September of this year that the Dept. of War settled a $24.3-billion contract with Lockheed for 296 aircraft in Lots 18 and 19.

Lockheed is the primary contractor on the vast F-35 program, which counts more than 1,900 suppliers in 48 states and 10 foreign countries.

The F-35 is a series of fighter jets deployed for ground attack and combat, and available in three variants – for the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy, and for the defense forces of more than a dozen other nations. Lots 20 and 21 will incorporate the various hardware and software updates planned as part of the F-35 Block 4 update – which will introduce more than 80 improved capabilities meant to keep the F-35 competitive against emerging threats, including improved sensors, sensor fusion, and expanded weapon capabilities. The current stage of the process is referred to as the Technology Refresh 3, which involves new data processors and expanded memory for enhanced mission processing, targeting, navigation, and communications.