Search

Roper: F-35 Program at an ‘Inflection Point,’ as Air Force Looks to Reduce Flying Hour Cost to Bank for Future Systems

Roper: F-35 Program at an ‘Inflection Point,’ as Air Force Looks to Reduce Flying Hour Cost to Bank for Future Systems
A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 63rd Fighter Squadron takes off, Nov. 18, 2020, at Luke AFB, Ariz. Ten F-35s from Luke AFB participated in a joint exercise with two B-2 Spirit stealth bombers from Whiteman AFB, Mo. During the exercise,, F-35s pressured enemy air defenses, escorted the bombers to deter enemy aircraft, and dropped bombs to soften the target areas for the B-2s. The 63rd Fighter Squadron, which trains students to become F-35 pilots, usually uses simulations to conduct this training, but had the opportunity to train students in a real world environment instead. (U.S. Air Force Photo)

The program for the Lockheed Martin [LMT] F-35 fighter, managed by the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md.,  is at an "inflection point" in which the program needs to reduce sustainment, cost-per-flying hour costs, as the U.S. Air Force looks to double its fleet of the conventional F-35As over the next several years, Air Force acquisiton chief Will Roper said Jan. 14. "The cost per flying hour is not where we need it to…

Subscriber-only content. Please log in below.

Not a subscriber or registered user yet?

Please contact us at clientservices@accessintel.com or call us at 888-707-5814 (Monday – Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. and Friday 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET.), to start a free trial, get pricing information, order a reprint, or post an article link on your website.



Contract Updates

R&M Government Services (Las Cruces, New Mexico) – $23,894,784

R&M Government Services,* Las Cruces, New Mexico, has been awarded a maximum $23,894,784 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-quantity contract for battery compartments. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 3204 (a)(1), as stated in the Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. This…


L3Harris Technologies Inc. (Clifton, New Jersey) – $9,571,947

L3Harris Technologies Inc., Clifton, New Jersey, is being awarded $9,571,947 for a firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of 74 radio frequency amplifiers in support of Navy F/A-18E/F/G aircraft. The contract does not include an option provision. All work will be…


Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. a Lockheed Martin Co. (Stratford, Connecticut) – $21,600,000

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a Lockheed Martin Co., Stratford, Connecticut, is awarded a not-to-exceed $21,600,000 cost reimbursable undefinitized order (N0001926F1016) against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N0001923G0002). This order provides for instantaneous access to 105% Transient Engine Torque test and…


Amentum Mitie Pacific LLC (Chantilly, Virginia) – $85,236,794

Amentum Mitie Pacific LLC, Chantilly, Virginia, is awarded an $85,236,794 fixed-price-award-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for base operating support services at Navy Support Facility, Diego Garcia. Work will be performed at Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory, and is expected to be…