Lockheed, Pentagon finalize deal for 296 F-35s
The $24.3 billion deal covers 148 aircraft each in production lots 18 and 19, closing out negotiations that have stretched since 2023.
F-35 Lot 18 ‘price increase’ due to inflation, rising raw material cost: Pentagon
The rising costs have led to a row between Switzerland and the US, as Bern faces a $610 million increase for its order of 36 F-35As, a defense official told Breaking Defense.
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US Navy F-35C crashes in California, pilot ejects safely
The carrier-capable F-35C crashed near Naval Air Station Lemoore in central California Wednesday evening, according to a US Navy spokesperson.
Lockheed eyes two-year timeline to pick new F-35 cooling system
The company is examining “all offers that’re out on the market today to make that decision, so it’s not going to be a quick choice,” Lockheed’s F-35 program manager Chauncey McIntosh told Breaking Defense.
F-35A crashes in Alaska, pilot ejects safely
The jet was participating in a training event and crashed while coming in for landing at Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks, Alaska, according to Col. Paul Townsend, commander of the 354th Fighter Wing.
Lockheed, Pentagon reach handshake deal for next 2 F-35 production lots
The so-called “handshake deal” precedes a formal contract finalization, which Lockheed expects will occur before the end of 2024.
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Army awards Raytheon $2 billion to begin LTAMDS production
The production deal comes nearly five years after the service first tapped the company to develop the Patriot replacement radars.
Pentagon still withholding F-35 payments to Lockheed over upgrade delays
“Since not everything that we contracted for has been delivered, payment is also not complete. We will not pay for that which we have not yet received,” said Air Force acquisition chief Andrew Hunter.
Pratt F-35 engine upgrade clears preliminary design review
The Engine Core Upgrade program is “on track” to field “as early as 2029,” according to Pratt & Whitney.
F-35 deliveries to resume next week, despite incomplete upgrade
A “truncated” version of Technology Refresh 3 software has enabled the Pentagon to resume deliveries, though a second software patch that would make the jets fully combat capable isn’t expected for at least another year.
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What a crashed jet means for an F-35 program already thin on test planes
The crashed F-35 was supposed to add to the small test fleet of just 43 aircraft, many of which are older models that can suffer from maintenance issues, the F-35 Joint Program Office tells Breaking Defense.
F-35B test jet crashes in New Mexico, pilot ejects safely but sustains injuries
The crash occurred just before 2 p.m. on Tuesday after the jet took off from Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The aircraft was an F-35B test jet on its way to Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California.
F-35 program’s lifetime price tag tops $2 trillion, Pentagon wants jets to fly longer
While the Pentagon now expects the plane to fly until 2088, GAO found the services are planning to slash flight hours, which can help hold down the program's topline.
Pentagon delays F-35 retrofits amid upgrade woes
Older F-35 stealth fighters were slated to start getting the Technology Refresh 3 upgrade this month, but the Pentagon has postponed the retrofit plan to an unspecified date.