AMITYVILLE, N.Y., Aug. 23 (UPI) -- Munition carriage and release systems for Lockheed Martin's F-35 Lightning II are to continue to be supplied by Exelis under low-rate production awards.
The value of the two initial low-rate production awards is about $60 million, covers all three variants of the next-generation fighter and includes spare equipment.
"The F-35 will be the premier combat aircraft for the coming decades," said Pete Martin, director of defense systems for the Exelis electronic attack & release systems business. "Our carriage and release systems provide the aircraft with the high-performance capability it needs to carry its mission payload while maintaining its low-observable profile."
Deliveries under the first contract -- for 36 aircraft -- will begin this coming January. Second contract deliveries for 37 F-35s will begin in March, Exelis said.
Additional details of the contract and information on where the carriage and release systems will be manufactured by Exelis were not given.
