Pentagon announces F-35 global transportation and distribution, regional warehouse assignments

The Pentagon announced on 4 January that it assigned the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) global transportation and distribution (T&D) and North American regional warehousing to the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) and US Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM).

This assignment is part of series of assignments that have previously designated airframe, propulsion, and component repair maintenance, repair, overhaul, and upkeep (MRO&U) providers across the F-35 Global Support Solution’s (GSS’) three-region construct. This current assignment is based upon data submitted by the F-35 partner nations, Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers, and Pentagon providers.

The F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) said it evaluated the submissions for best value to determine the final assignment selection. This assignment is an enabler of the F-35 global sustainment strategy and will facilitate the movement of material around the world through a single integrator.

“As the F-35 enterprise continues to expand globally, the supply chain required to support and sustain the warfighter’s demands will need to grow as well,” Vice Admiral Mat Winter, F-35 programme executive officer (PEO), said in a statement. “Our F-35 Global Supply Solution continues to expand in concert with our planned assignments to ensure we have affordable MRO&U capacity to meet the planned F-35 operational delivery timelines.”