What Happened
Long-Term Production And Sustainment Contract In The Works
The Pentagon and Lockheed Martin are in discussions over a potential multi-year deal for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, which could include both production and sustainment for the stealth jet. The agreement, which could span up to a decade and be worth tens of billions of dollars, may include bulk buys of spare parts to improve the fighter’s readiness rates. According to sources familiar with the negotiations, Lockheed is advocating for a multi-year contracting approach to provide stability and cost efficiency for the F-35 industrial base. The news was first reported by Breaking Defense.