Lockheed Martin Awarded $4.7 Billion for F-35 Combat Jets | France Gets C-130J Long Term Sustainment | BAE Systems Tapped For VLS Canister Production

Americas

Lockheed Martin won a $4.7 billion contract modification for the procurement of 78 F-35 combat aircraft (48 F-35A combat aircraft for the Air Force, 14 F-35B combat aircraft for the Marine Corps, 16 F-35C fighter aircraft for the Navy) and associated aircraft red gear. The contract was awarded by the Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, MD. The majority of the work related to the deal will be carried out in Fort Worth, TX. The F-35 is a fifth-generation single-seat, single-engine, all-weather stealth multirole jet fighter-bomber designed to perform ground attack, aerial reconnaissance, and air defense missions. It is one of the most advanced combat jets in the world. The order involves 48 F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) jet aircraft for the US Air Force for operation from conventional long runways; 14 F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) jet aircraft for the US Marine Corps for operation from small ships and unimproved runways; and 16 F-35C reinforced aircraft with folding wings for the US Navy for aircraft carrier operations. Work will take place in Texas, California, the UK, Florida, New Hampshire and Maryland. Estimated completion will be by March 2023.

Lockheed Martin won a $90 million deal, which provides requirements development, technical analysis, engineering and integration support for the H-60 aircraft. The Sikorsky H-60 is a four-blade, twin-engine, medium-lift utility helicopter. Variants of the Black Hawk are operational or have been ordered by 25 international customers: the Argentine Air Force, Royal Australian Army, Bahrain, Brazil, Brunei, Chile, Colombian Air Force, Egypt, Greece, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan Self Defence Force, Jordan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, People’s Republic of China, Royal Saudi Land Forces Army Aviation Command, the Turkish Jandarma, Spain, The Philippine Air Force, Taiwan, and Thailand. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Work will take place in Oswego, New York. Expected completion will be by March 2028.

Middle East & Africa

The US Air Force Life Cycle awarded a $91 million contract to Universal Propulsion for multiple national stock numbers for Cartridge Actuated Devices/Propellant Actuated Devices. The deal provides for use in the egress systems of Air Force B-1, B-2, F-22, F-117, QF-16, and U-2 aircraft; Air Force, Navy, and Foreign Military Sales C-17, F-15, F-5, QF-4, T-37 and T-38 aircraft, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration aircraft. Universal Propulsion designs and manufactures aircraft ejection systems. The Company products include air crew escape systems, sequencing systems, ejection seats and related components. Aircraft Interior Products Propulsion Systems serves customers worldwide. The contract involves foreign military sales to Bahrain, Chile, Greece, Jordan, Mexico, Morocco, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia and Turkey. Work will take place in Fairfield, California. Expected completion will be by March 1, 2027.

Europe

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics won a $22.9 million deal that integrates the government of Belgium into the F-35 Lightning II combat aircraft enterprise. In October 2018, Belgium became 13th nation in the world to join the program when it picked the F-35A jet to replace its aging F-16s. Earlier that year, the US State Department approved a $6.5 billion deal to sell 34 F-35 fighters to Brussels. The F-35A beat Eurofighter in a close contest to win the deal, mainly owing to its ability to drop US-made B-61 nuclear bombs and superior stealth features. This is part of the government of Belgium’s $5.1 billion agreement with the US government for the procurement of the F-35 air system. Work is expected to be complete by September 2023.

The US Air Force Life Cycle awarded Lockheed Martin a $8.5 million modification for C-130J support. The deal is for long term sustainment for France’s C-130J aircraft. The Lockheed Martin C-130 is US Air Force’s principal tactical cargo and personnel transport aircraft. The C-130J Hercules is the latest model, featuring a glass cockpit, digital avionics and a new propulsion system with a six-bladed propeller. Back in February the second of two Lockheed Martin KC-130J Super Hercules aerial refueling aircraft arrived in France. Work under the contract modification will take place in Marietta, Georgia and is expected to be finished by January 31, 2021.

Asia-Pacific

BAE Systems Land & Armaments won a $99.4 million contract modification or MK 41 Vertical Launching System canister production and ancillary hardware. This modification combines purchases for the Navy and the government of Japan under the Foreign Military Sales program. A VLS canister functions as a missile shipping container and a launch tube when loaded into system modules. The branch initially awarded BAE a $954.5M contract in February to manufacture and update canisters as well as provide spares and support equipment. Work will take place in South Dakota and Minnesota. Expected completion will be by April 2022.

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