Lockheed Martin signs contract for 145 F-35 aircraft
Lockheed Martin was recently awarded an unspecified fixed-price incentive (corporate target), enterprise fixed-price modification (P00011) not to exceed $11,762,911,991 to a previously awarded contract (N0001923C0003).
According to Defense.gov, the upgrade will result in the production of 145 F-35 Full Rate Production (FRP) Lot 18 aircraft (48 F-35A aircraft, 16 F-35B aircraft, and 5 F-35C aircraft for the Air Force). The scope of delivery will be added. 14 aircraft for the Marine Corps, 15 F-35A aircraft for the Navy and one F-35B aircraft for non-Department of Defense personnel. (Department of Defense) program partners, and 39 F-35A and seven F-35B aircraft for Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers). Additionally, this modification provides tooling support to the Italian government and Japanese final assembly and checkout facilities.
Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (57%); El Segundo, California (14%); Wharton, England (9%); Cameri, Italy (4%); Orlando, Florida (4%); Nashua, New Hampshire (3%); Baltimore, Maryland (3%); California San Diego, CA (2%); Nagoya, Japan (2%); Fiscal 2024 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funding is $2,513,023,832. Aircraft procurement (Navy) funding for fiscal year 2024 is $2,042,260,961. F-35 non-DoD program partner funding is $816,352,999. FMS customer funds in the amount of $2,013,017,680 will be obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The contract being modified is not in conflict. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.
Lightning II
The F-35 Lightning II family has three variants, all of which are single-seat jets. F-35A conventional takeoff and landing versions, F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing versions, and F-35C carrier-based versions.
All three variants feature similar performance characteristics and exactly the same advanced avionics. Variations between models allow the military to achieve service-specific mission capabilities while leveraging economies of scale that result from parts and processes common to all three variants.
The F-35 currently operates at 32 bases around the world. To date, Lockheed Martin has delivered more than 1,000 F-35s, trained more than 2,540 pilots and 16,690 mechanics, and accumulated more than 889,000 flight hours in F-35 squadrons. Lockheed Martin continues to work with F-35 operators to ensure our allies stay ahead of evolving threats.
uncertain future
Notably, the F-35’s future remains uncertain. Indeed, despite the high demand for Lightning II, Elon Musk, a key ally of President-elect Donald Trump, criticized the plan.
Musk called officials “stupid” for continuing to build the plane. Musk will co-lead a proposed commission that could recommend cutting government spending.
According to the Defense Post, Musk’s co-leader Vivek Ramaswamy has also advocated shifting funding to unmanned platforms rather than traditional fighter jets.
Photo by Sergeant Cody Trimble/U.S. Air Force and Lockheed Martin
