Lockheed Martin [LMT] has received a $3.5 billion contract modification from the Defense Department to manufacture 31 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters in the fourth lot of low-rate initial production (LRIP), the department announced on Nov. 19.
The contract also funds manufacturing-support equipment, flight test instrumentation and ancillary mission equipment. Including the long-lead funding previously received, the total contract value for LRIP 4 is $3.9 billion.
Under the contract, Lockheed Martin will produce 10 F-35A conventional takeoff and landing variants for the Air Force, 16 F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing variants for the Marine Corps, four F-35C carrier variants for the Navy and one F-35B for the United Kingdom. Additionally, the Netherlands has the option to procure one F-35A.
The LRIP 4 order is in addition to 31 F-35s contracted under LRIPs 1-3, three of which already have exited Lockheed Martin’s factory in Fort Worth, Texas. Nineteen test aircraft also have rolled out.