NAVAIR orders F-35 gun depot repair
Lockheed Martin is to conduct depot-level repair work on the 25mm GAU-22/A four-barrel rotary cannon that is installed on Lot 11 production F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft.
The $14.72 million contract from Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) covers all variants of the F-35, operated by the USAF, USMC and USN, as well as Lot 11 F-35s flown by allied air forces.
Work will be carried out at three locations in the US for completion by November 2024.
The single 25mm cannon on the F-35 is made by General Dynamics. The electrically powered gun can fire up to 3,300 rounds per minute. Options include frangible armour-piercing ammunition made by Rheinmetall.
More from Air Warfare
-
Portugal signals interest in establishing A-29N final assembly line
As the launch customer for the NATO-configured variant, Portugal also took delivery of the first five A-29N aircraft from its order for 12, placed in 2024.
-
Leonardo signs contract on Austria’s M-346 aircraft order
The first of the 12 M-346 aircraft are expected to be delivered to the Austrian Air Force by 2028, according to the company.
-
2025 UAV market review: $7.8 billion in new contracts signed as US leads spending
Qatar and Indonesia followed the US’s high spending on new uncrewed aerial vehicle contracts across 2025, while MALE and micro drones and loitering munitions were particularly popular subcategories this year.
-
German Navy in “ramp-up” phase as it welcomes first NH90 Sea Tiger delivery
With all 31 aircraft set to be delivered by 2030, the helicopters will gradually replace the ageing Sea Lynx fleet which are due to be retired in 2026.