Pentagon and Lockheed Martin finalize Lot 15-17 contract, one year of international growth
F-35 fleet now at 894 aircraft after 141 deliveries in 2022
Arlington, Va., December 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — The F-35 Joint Program Office and Lockheed Martin have closed a contract for the production and delivery of 398 F-35 aircraft. $30 billionLots 15 and 16 include US, international partners, and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) aircraft with an option for Lot 17.
“The F-35 provides unsurpassed capability to our warfighters and operational commanders,” said Air Force Lt. Gen. Mike Schmidt, Program Executive Officer, F-35 Joint Program Office. “This contract strikes the right balance between what is best for the US taxpayer, the military services, allies and our foreign military sales customers. The F-35 is the world’s most important multi-mission, 5th generation weapon system and modernized Block 4 capabilities. These new aircraft are capable of Moreover, we will enhance interoperability with our allies and partners across the land, sea, air and cyber domains.
The contract includes 145 aircraft for Lot 15, 127 for Lot 16 and 126 for the Lot 17 contract option, including the first F-35 aircraft. Belgium, Finland And Poland.
Lot 15-17 aircraft will be the first to include Technical Refresh-3 (TR-3), the modernized hardware required to power Block 4 capabilities. The TR-3 includes a new integrated core processor with more computing power, a panoramic cockpit display and an improved memory unit.
The aircraft will add to a growing global fleet that currently stands at 894 aircraft after 141 deliveries this year. The F-35 team was on track to meet its commitment of 148 aircraft as planned; However, due to the suspension in flight operations, which is still in effect, the necessary acceptance flight tests could not be conducted.
The one-year contract closes out the F-35, which delivers combat-proven airpower around the world and continues international growth. this year, Finland, Germany And Switzerland The signing of Letters of Offer and Acceptance (LOAs) is a significant step in the procurement of F-35 aircraft.
“Continuing to add new nations to our global F-35 fleet further validates the aircraft’s capability and affordability in providing 21st century security to nations and allies,” Bridget Lauderdale, Lockheed Martin vice president and general manager, F-35 program. “There is no other aircraft that can do what the F-35 does to defeat and deter even the most advanced threats.”
There are currently 17 countries participating in the F-35 program. To date, more than 1,870 pilots and 13,500 maintainers have been trained, and the F-35 has flown over 602,000 cumulative flight hours.
Source Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
For more information: F-35 Joint Program Office Public Affairs, [email protected], Jacqueline Lorenzetti, Lockheed Martin, +1 972-310-1979, [email protected]
