Lockheed receiving long-lead acquisition contract for F-35s

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- Lockheed Martin is being awarded an advanced acquisition contract from the U.S. military for long-lead materials, parts and components for F-35 aircraft.

The contract is to maintain the planned production of production Lot 11 fighters, the Defense Department said, and is worth nearly $1.2 billion.

The advance acquisition effort includes 80 F-35A aircraft -- 28 for the U.S. Air Force; six for Norway; four each for Turkey the Netherlands and Australia; 10 for Israel; six for Japan; and 10 for the government of South Korea.

Seven F-35B aircraft (six for the U.S. Marine Corps and 1 for Britain are also included as well as four C variant F-35s for the U.S. Navy.

"This contract also includes an undefinitized contract action for production of 2 F-35A aircraft for the U.S. Air Force and F-35C aircraft for the U.S. Navy," the Pentagon said.

"Fiscal 2015 aircraft procurement (Air Force, Navy), fiscal 2016 aircraft procurement (Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps), non-U.S. DoD partner and foreign military sales funds in the amount of $847,929,604 are being obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year," it said.

The U.S. Naval Air Systems Command is the contracting activity.