LM awarded nearly USD5 billion in F-35 contracts, Belgium formally bought into programme

The US Department of Defense (DoD) has awarded Lockheed Martin nearly USD5 billion in contracts related to the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), including one that formally introduces Belgium into the multinational programme.

F-35 contracts announced by the US DoD on 31 March amounted to nearly USD5 billion for Lockheed Martin. (US Air Force)

The three contracts announced on 31 March were valued at USD4.7 billion, USD202.8 million, and USD22.9 million, bringing the total value of the work awarded by the US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) contracting authority to USD4.96 billion.

The largest of the awards is a modification that covers the procurement of 78 F-35s, comprising 48 F-35A conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) aircraft for the US Air Force (USAF), 14 F-35B short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft for the US Marine Corps (USMC), 16 F-35C carrier variant (CV) aircraft for the US Navy (USN). Work will be performed primarily in Fort Worth, Texas, and is set to complete by March 2023.

The second USD202.8 million award announced on 31 March is for the continuation of F-35 development work at Edwards Air Force Base (AFB) in California, Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland, Fort Worth in Texas, and Orlando in Florida. “This contract action also provides unique sea trials on aircraft carriers for non-DoD participants,” the notification said. Work is expected to be complete by September.