US awards initial spares contract for F-35 Lot 16 aircraft
F-35B Lightning II aircraft. (Photo: USN/Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Peter Burghart)
The latest F-35 contract modification for Lockheed Martin follows a deal covering ‘ancillary mission equipment requirements’ for Lot 15 and Lot 16 aircraft.
Lockheed Martin is to provide US Naval Air Systems Command with initial spares in support of F-35 Lightning II Lot 16 deliveries, plus spares packages for USAF, USMC and USN operators as well as FMS customers.
Work on the latest $397.73 million contract modification will be completed by December 2024, the DoD announced on 13 May.
On 5 May, the DoD revealed a $372.5 million contract modification for Lockheed Martin to meet ‘ancillary mission equipment requirements’ for F-35 Lot 15 and Lot 16 aircraft.
According to a Congressional Research Service report (updated on 2 May) on the F-35 programme, Lot 15 is expected to include 169 aircraft and Lot 16 covers 157.
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