Lockheed awarded maintenance contract for F-35 logistics system

June 30 (UPI) -- Lockheed Martin is receiving a $22.8 million contract for maintenance and administrative services in support of the Autonomic Logistics Information System for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter.

Included in the contract is ALIS maintenance and software service for administration and operations, the Department of Defense announced Thursday. The program will apply to F-35 II systems for the Navy and Marine Corps.

Work will be conducted at Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif., And Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Japan with an anticipated completion date of December 2017. Fiscal 2017 Navy and Marine Corps aircraft and procurement funds in the amount of $22.8 million are being obligated upon award.

The Autonomic Logistics Information System is designed to monitor the aircraft's systems, parts and performance, and provide maintenance and repair requirements to aircraft crews using plug-in Toughbook laptops.

The system has been seen years of delays and problems ranging from a lack of system redundancy, unreliability with the aircraft and glitches in ALIS leading to the grounding of aircraft.

Problems with ALIS extend back to before 2015 and are still not completely resolved. As the "brains" of the F-35's logistical and maintenance operations, continuing problems could seriously affect any potential deployment.

The F-35 Lightning II is a 5th generation multi-role stealth fighter that is anticipated to replace much of the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps fighter fleets. It will also be exported to approved allies across the world.