Tag: F-35

The F-35 Joint Program Office and Lockheed Martin finalized a $34 billion agreement for the production and delivery of 478 F-35s in three models, at the lowest aircraft price during the history of the Program.

Lockheed Martin said today it has developed an advanced version of the Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS) used in the F-35 Lightning II. The Advanced EOTS offers higher resolution and improved multi-spectral sensing. The development was funded through internal investment and was vetted through Operational Analysis against the most demanding F-35 missions.

Boeing has introduced today its newest unmanned platform, the Boeing Airpower Teaming System (ATS), designed to extend airborne missions through smart teaming with existing, manned military aircraft. Designed and built by Boeing Australia, the ATS represents Boeing's largest investment in a new unmanned aircraft program outside the United States. The Australian government allocated $40 million in support of the program and considers to include the new platform as part the RAAF '5th GEN Air Force' modernization under 'Plan Jericho'

The U.S. Department of Defense and Lockheed Martin have finalized an $11.5 billion contract for the production and delivery of 141 F-35 aircraft at the lowest per aircraft price in program history. The 11th Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP 11) agreement funds 91 aircraft for the U.S. Services, 28 for F-35 International Partners and 22 for F-35 Foreign Military Sales customers. Deliveries will begin in 2019.

Lockheed Martin selected Raytheon to develop and deliver the next generation Distributed Aperture System (DAS) for the F-35 fighter jet. The Raytheon-built DAS will be integrated into F-35 aircraft starting with Lot 15 aircraft, expected to begin deliveries in 2023 and is expected to save to more than $3 billion over the life cycle of the program.

In 2019, DOD will decide whether to enter full-rate production for the F-35 aircraft. From the next year onwards, the Pentagon plans to invest about $10 billion annually for two decades acquiring F-35s - the most expensive and ambitious weapon acquisition program in U.S. military history. By the time the program moves into full-rate production, 500 aircraft will be procured and will need fixes and resolving deficiencies found during the testing. Bringing those aircraft to full capability could cost $1.4 billion. The F35 program office will hold a summit later this year to determine who will be responsible for the costs associated with resolving the remaining deficiencies.

On Friday, December 15, Lockheed Martin delivered the 66th F-35 aircraft for the year, meeting the joint government and industry delivery target for 2017. The delivery rate in 2017 represents more than a 40 percent increase from 2016, and the F-35 enterprise is prepared to increase production volume year-over-year to hit full rate of approximately 160 aircraft in 2023. As production ramps and additional improvements are implemented, Lockheed Martin's goal is to reduce the cost of an F-35A to $80 million by 2020.

As the SDB II program is nearing completion of developmental testing Raytheon has completed the first production lot of the Small Diameter Bomb II (designated GBU-53/B) at its fully-automated manufacturing facility in Tucson, Arizona.

The Israel Air Force declared its F-35I unit operational today, following the year-long initial operational capability qualification of 140 Squadron ('Golden Eagle') the first IAF unit operating the Fifth Generation fighter (dubbed 'Adir' by the IAF). By the summer of 2018, the squadron is expected to receive six more fighters.

The United Kingdom is preparing its F-35 Lightning II to carry and operate the Meteor Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) as its principal long-range air/air weapon.

The Air Force will deploy a small number of F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter aircraft this weekend on a long-planned training deployment to Europe, Pentagon officials announced today.

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works and the US Air Force successfully demonstrated the teaming of manned and unmanned aircraft in combat missions as part of the Air Force's "Loyal wingman" concept

The first F-35B Lightning II aircraft, belonging to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, Marine Aircraft Group 12, arrived at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni today (January 18, 2017) beginning the squadron’s permanent basing at the air station.

Continued delays in the completion of the third and final developmental software block (Block 3f) of the F-35 is likely to push back the...