Lockheed, Mitsubishi sign F-2 parts deal

FORT WORTH, Texas, April 11 (UPI) -- Lockheed Martin has won an order to make components for eight Mitsubishi F-2 fighter planes.

The contract from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is worth around $250 million, Lockheed Martin said in a statement Tuesday. MHI is the prime contractor in building the F-2, which is the Japanese Air Self Defense Force's operational support fighter.

"With the award of this twelfth and final annual F-2 production contract, Lockheed Martin will begin fabrication and delivery of components for the last eight aircraft," said Jim Shidler, Lockheed Martin F-2 program director.

"In addition, following completion of production it is imperative that the fielded aircraft are effectively maintained and enhanced in order to meet the long-term operational requirements of the Japan Air Self Defense Force -- JASDF. In this regard, Lockheed Martin is working with MHI to define appropriate industry post-production involvement," Shidler said.

The latest order brings the number of aircraft Lockheed Martin now has a contract with MHI to supply component parts for to 94, all of which have been ordered by the Japanese government.

Lockheed Martin said it has already finished work on components for the first 83 F-2 aircraft from those orders. Japan has now produced 11 annual contracts for them.

For the next and last contract in the program, Lockheed Martin said it would once again manufacture every aft fuselages, wing leading-edge flap and stores management system. It said it would also make 80 percent of all left-hand wing boxes; along with additional avionics and avionics support equipment.

Lockheed Martin said its components were delivered MHI's Komaki-South factory in Nagoya, Japan, and then put together with other components by MHI to make the aircraft.

Lockheed Martin said MHI sent the first F-2 production aircraft to Japan's Defense the Ministry Defense in September 2000. It said it will have sent over 76 aircraft within the next few months.