The Naval Air Systems Command awarded Lockheed Martin [LMT] a $1.46 billion modification for long-lead material and parts for F-35 aircraft, the Defense Department said Tuesday.

This not-to-exceed modification on an earlier advance acquisition contract specifically covers low rate initial production (LRIP) F-35s.

Hill Air Force Base F-35As fly in formation over the Utah Test and Training Range, March 30, 2017. (U.S. Air Force photo/R. Nial Bradshaw)
Hill Air Force Base F-35As fly in formation over the Utah Test and Training Range, March 30, 2017. (U.S. Air Force photo/R. Nial Bradshaw)

This includes 145 Lot 13 aircraft for the Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, non-U.S. Defense Department participants, and foreign military sales (FMS) customers as well as 69 Lot 14 F-35s for non-U.S. DoD participants and FMS customers.

The company said this award “will enable F-35 suppliers to order parts and build subsystems on-time to maximize efficiencies, reduce costs and deliver aircraft to meet warfighter demand.”

The original contract was awarded to Lockheed Martin for $1.4 billion in April 2017. It covered advance acquisition for long-lead time materials, parts, components, and efforts for 130 LRIP Lot 12 as well as 110 Lot 13 and Lot 14 F-35s for these customers.

A majority of this new modification work will be split among Fort Worth, Texas; El Segundo, Calif.; Warton, United Kingdom; and Orlando, Fla. Work is expected to be finished by December. 2018.

This award combines purchases for the Air Force at $347 million, or 24 percent, Marine Corps at $166 million, or 11 percent, Navy for $48 million, or three percent, non-U.S. DoD participants for $637 million, or 44 percent, and FMS customers for $266 million, or 18 percent.