This contract will allow Lockheed Martin to enhance its production capacity of the F-35 aircraft. Lockheed Martin, a US-based company, has been granted a $172 million modified contract by the Naval Air Systems Command to amplify manufacturing capacity for the F-35 aircraft. The contract will also furnish specialized test and tooling equipment, material modification kits, and support for eliminating lifespan limitations, rectifying deficiencies, and retrofitting aircraft to integrate next-generation distributed aperture system (DAS) hardware, along with associated power and thermal management system modifications.
The F-35 program encompasses multiple international partners involved at various levels. These partners consist of eight countries, namely the UK, Denmark, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, Italy, Turkey, and Australia. According to GlobalData’s US Defense Market 2022-2027 report, the program holds political, tactical, and strategic significance by equipping NATO nations with advanced and capable aircraft while expanding the influence of the US defense market through a lucrative program for Lockheed Martin.
Lockheed Martin’s modifications will be implemented on F-35 aircraft for the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, as well as foreign military sales (FMS) customers and non-US Department of Defense (DoD) participants. The work will take place in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to conclude by December 2030. As per GlobalData’s The Global Military Fixed Wing Aircraft Market 2022-2032 report, combat aircraft represents the largest segment in the market.
The US is projected to be the leading spender on combat aircraft procurement, allocating $211.4 billion from 2022 to 2032. The F-35, developed by Lockheed Martin, is a fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft designed for multiple roles, including air superiority, ground attack, and intelligence gathering. The DAS enhances pilots’ situational awareness by providing a 360° view of the surrounding environment.
Based on GlobalData’s analysis, Lockheed Martin is expected to hold a 43.6% share of North America’s military fixed-wing aircraft market, generating an estimated revenue of $134 billion from 2022 to 2032. The company has made significant investments in improving the manufacturing process to ensure prompt delivery of the aircraft to its customers.