NAVAIR orders Lot 15 F-35s
F-35 Lightning II. (Photo: DVIDS)
USAF will receive ten new Lot 15 production F-35As and the USMC will receive six F-35Bs.
Lockheed Martin has obtained a $2 billion modification contract from US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) in the US.
Under the modification to a previously awarded fixed-price incentive advance acquisition contract. Lockheed Martin will manufacture and deliver 16 Lot 15 production F-35 Lightning II aircraft, comprising ten F-35As for the USAF and six F-35Bs to the USMC.
Lockheed Martin will perform most of the work in Texas, with completion expected in May 2026.
Some 40% of the funds come from the USN FY2021 aircraft procurement budget with the remaining 60% from USAF FY2021 aircraft procurement funds, the DoD noted in a 24 September announcement.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![Royal Thai Air Forces’ bid for Saab’s Gripens backed by defence minister]()
Royal Thai Air Forces’ bid for Saab’s Gripens backed by defence minister
The Thai government minister expressed confidence in the aircraft type, noting that a decision on the selection process between the Gripen and F-16 would be “made soon”.
-
![GCAP needs to “avoid mistakes” of previous programmes to meet 2035 date, states UK Defence Committee]()
GCAP needs to “avoid mistakes” of previous programmes to meet 2035 date, states UK Defence Committee
The Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) report highlighted issues with opening the programme to other international partners, as well as notable gaps in future training requirement for the sixth-generation aircraft.
-
![Boeing’s Ghost Bat clocks up the milestones and progresses as Saab Australia gets on board]()
Boeing’s Ghost Bat clocks up the milestones and progresses as Saab Australia gets on board
More than 100 hours of physical flight have taken place since the first flight of MQ-28 Ghost Bat uncrewed aerial system (UAS) four years ago and this has been underpinned by approximately 20,000 hours of flying the digital twin.
-
![Uruguayan Air Force firms up options for five more A-29 Super Tucanos]()
Uruguayan Air Force firms up options for five more A-29 Super Tucanos
The air force converted options from its original August 2024 deal for five additional aircraft, rounding its total out to six firm orders.
-
![Second Hypersonic Test Bed flight completed for US Missile Defence Agency]()
Second Hypersonic Test Bed flight completed for US Missile Defence Agency
The US Missile Defence Agency (MDA) teamed up with other Department of Defense organisations, industry and academia to conduct the test.
-
![QinetiQ wins $14 million contract to supply Vindicator drones to US Navy]()
QinetiQ wins $14 million contract to supply Vindicator drones to US Navy
The five-year contract is reportedly the largest provision of uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) support for use by the US Navy (USN) and will run until late 2029.
