
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. – The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter’s manufacturer wants to negotiate maintenance contracts on a five-year schedule, a new process it claims will save $1 billion in sustainment costs for the U.S. military over that contract period. Lockheed Martin [LMT] is pitching a shift away from the typical yearly contract negotiation cycle that the company says assumes significant government risk and drives minimal long-term industry investment. Officials submitted a white paper to Pentagon acquisition leaders in August to…