Lockheed Martin has received a $1.4 billion contract to develop a critical warfighting capability for the US military’s F-35 Lightning II fighter jet.
As part of the deal, the aerospace giant will produce and integrate the Multi-ship Infrared Search and Track Increment 2, the Electronic Warfare Band 2/5 Radar Warning Receiver, and a Beyond Line-of-Sight communication system.
It will also develop a Modernized Countermeasure Controller for the fifth-generation fighter.
All products and services under the contract are meant for F-35 lots 16 and 17 in service with the US Air Force, US Navy, US Marine Corps, and international allies.
A majority of the work will be carried out in Texas and New Hampshire with an expected completion date of March 2028.
Features
Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II is a single-engine fighter aircraft designed to support combat operations.
It is armed with a 25-millimeter GAU-22/A Gatling Gun, two AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles, and two GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munitions.
The aircraft also features sophisticated electronic sensors that provide pilots with improved situational awareness, missile warning, aircraft warning, and day/night pilot vision.
It can travel at more than Mach 1.6 with a maximum range of 1,200 nautical miles..
The F-35 comes in three versions: a conventional-takeoff-and-landing variant for the US Air Force, an aircraft-carrier variant for the US Navy, and a short-takeoff/vertical landing variant for the US Marine Corps, UK Royal Air Force, and UK Royal Navy.
