Bangkok looks to the future with new Thai fighters
Thailand wants nothing less than the fifth-generation F-35 in order to modernise its fighter fleet.
Lockheed supports Italian and Norwegian F-35s
Work will be performed at Eglin Air Force Base for completion by December 2022.
Maintenance and sustainment operation support for Italian and Norwegian F-35 aircraft will continue to be provided by Lockheed Martin under a new $13.12 million contract modification from US Naval Air Systems Command.
Work will be performed at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida for completion by December 2022, the DoD announced on 7 January.
Norway purchased 52 F-35As through an FMS programme for $11.2 billion in 2008, with deliveries to the Royal Norwegian Air Force scheduled between 2015 and 2024.
Italy has ordered 90 F-35 aircraft (60 F-35As and 30 F-35Bs); however, as noted by Shephard Defence Insight, the programme has been dogged by political controversy. Deliveries have been postponed and payments missed.
Even so, the defence budgets for 2019 and 2020 contained significant funding for the F-35 programme, suggesting that the programme is still moving ahead.
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