First F135 engine depot outside of US is approved
Netherlands F135 engine maintenance facility has been approved for initial depot capability.
The US Space Force has awarded Lockheed Martin Space a $258.31 million firm-fixed-price contract under the Evolved Strategic Satellite Communication (ESS) programme.
‘This contract will develop a prototype payload and conclude in a hardware and software in-the-loop, end-to-end demonstration,’ the DoD noted on 9 November.
Work will be performed in Denver, Colorado, and is expected to be completed June 2025.
ESS is envisaged as an adjunct to — and eventual mid-latitude replacement for — the strategic jam-resistant SATCOM mission performed by the existing Advanced Extremely High Frequency constellation (which was also made by Lockheed Martin).
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
Netherlands F135 engine maintenance facility has been approved for initial depot capability.
Lockheed Martin carries on developing network-enabled weapons and electronic-attack capabilities for F-35 operators in the US and allied air forces.
In what amounted to a fairly one-sided contest, the F-35A has emerged as the winner of Switzerland's Air2030 procurement, with Bern opting to buy 36 of the fifth-generation jets.
The US ‘most advanced carrier wing’ has been qualified for Carrier operations following four days of flight deck operations earlier this month.
Three ‘unique weapons capabilities’ will be installed on F-35A and F-35B aircraft, says NAVAIR.
New sustainment plans could see Lockheed Martin reduce operating costs of the F-35 to $25,000 per flight hour.