Belgium to be integrated into F-35 Lightning II enterprise
The US Naval Air Systems Command has awarded Lockheed Martin a $22.9 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to integrate Belgium into the F-35 Lightning II enterprise.
It forms part of a wider agreement, worth a reported $5.1 billion, between the US and Belgium for procurement of F-35s.
The new contract covers the provision of non-recurring engineering and programme support, plus production of aircraft and their sustainment until September 2023.
Work is to be completed at US sites in California, Florida and Texas as well as in the UK by BAE Systems.
FMS funds will be obligated straight away and will not expire at the end of FY2020.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
Extending mission readiness: where XR adds real value in pilot, crew and maintenance training
Extended reality (XR) is becoming increasingly relevant in military aviation training, adding a flexible layer to an integrated ecosystem spanning the pilot, crew, and maintenance domains.
-
August crewed air review: KC-390 momentum builds as demand in the tanker market grows
The KC-390 is building a growing international operator base, but competition in the transport and tanker market is increasingly likely to depend on interoperability, commonality and the strength of supporting ecosystems. Meanwhile, Boeing’s KC-46 and Airbus’s A330 also gained ground in August.
-
New E-3 and T-38 awards expose US Air Force legacy fleet dependence
Contracts for E-3 aircrew training through August 2029 and supplies for the T-38 engine until December 2028 reflect issues with replacement and retirement plans across the USAF inventory.
-
USMC advances MV-22B Osprey safety and reliability upgrades
The US Marine Corps is testing a redesigned input quill assembly and plans to transition its MV-22B fleet to improved gearboxes by January 2033 as it prepares to operate the tiltrotor through 2055.