Saturday, August 03, 2013

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Principle Agreement Reached On Two Lower Cost F-35 Contracts

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Principle Agreement Reached On Two Lower Cost F-35 Contracts
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Lockheed Martin
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - August 3, 2013: The U.S. Department of Defense and Lockheed Martin reached an agreement in principle for the next two F-35 Lightning II aircraft production contracts (Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) lots 6 and 7), which is expected to include 71 stealth fighter aircraft and continue a reduction in F-35 aircraft pricing. The contracting effort spanned six months from proposal to settlement.

A decrease in F-35 LRIP 6-7 unit costs, coupled with negotiating lower prices on a number of other smaller contracts, will allow the Department to purchase all the aircraft originally planned, including those that were in jeopardy of being cut due to sequestration budget impacts.

Cost details will be released once both contracts are finalized; however, in general, the unit prices for all three variants of the U.S. air vehicles in LRIP-6 are roughly four percent lower than the previous contract. LRIP-7 air vehicle unit prices will show an additional four percent reduction. The LRIP-7 price represents about an eight percent reduction from the LRIP-5 contract signed in December 2012.

"These two contracts represent a fair deal that is beneficial to the government and Lockheed Martin," said Lt. Gen. Chris Bogdan, F-35 Program Executive Officer. "Improving affordability is critical to the success of this program, and by working together we were able to negotiate a lower cost F-35. There is still work to be done, but these agreements are proof the cost arrow is moving in the right direction.  We will continue to work with industry to identify areas for savings in future production contracts."

The new contracts will also include the first F-35s for Australia, Italy, Norway, and the fourth F-35 for the United Kingdom. In addition to procuring the air vehicles, these contracts also fund manufacturing-support equipment and ancillary mission equipment.

Deliveries of 36 U.S. and partner nation aircraft in LRIP-6 will begin by mid-2014 and deliveries of 35 U.S. and partner nation aircraft in LRIP-7 will begin by mid-2015.

“At the start of these negotiations, the F-35 Joint Program Office and our F-35 team jointly committed to conduct LRIP-6 and -7 negotiations in an efficient manner that leveraged all we achieved from the LRIP-5 contract,” said Lorraine Martin, Lockheed Martin F-35 Vice President and General Manager. “Today’s agreement reflects our collective JPO/LM delivery on that commitment. We know how critical aircraft production is to meeting our services’ Initial Operational Capability dates, beginning with the Marine Corps in 2015, and we’re committed to making that happen.”

The LRIP-6 and -7 aircraft will join the 95 F-35s contracted under LRIPs 1-5. To date, 67 F-35s (including test aircraft) have been delivered from Lockheed Martin's production facility in Fort Worth, Texas. The U.S. and eight partner nations plan to acquire more than 3,100 F-35 fighters. Israel and Japan have also announced plans to purchase the jet under Foreign Military Sales agreements.

The agreement in principle reached between the Government and Lockheed Martin are for air vehicles and do not include the propulsion systems.  The LRIP-6 engine contract is currently being negotiated between the Government and Pratt & Whitney.

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Lockheed Martin
*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News 
*Photograph: IPF (International Pool of Friends) + DTN News / otherwise source stated
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
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DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: 100th Jet In Final Production; First F-35 Bound For Luke AFB

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: 100th Jet In Final Production; First F-35 Bound For Luke AFB
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Lockheed Martin
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - August 3, 2013: The 100th Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-35 Lightning II, the first aircraft destined for Luke Air Force Base in Glendale, Ariz., has entered the last stage of final assembly. This conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) aircraft, known as AF-41, is scheduled to arrive at the base next year. During final assembly, the aircraft structure is completed, and electrical and hydraulic systems are added. Additionally, these systems are tested in preparation for fuel systems checks and engine runs. The final steps prior to acceptance by the Air Force include a series of checkout flights leading to the aircraft entering the service’s F-35 fleet. AF-41 is one of 126 F-35s in various stages of production worldwide.

In June, the Air Force announced its decision to increase the number of squadrons at Luke AFB to six with 144 aircraft, which will make it the largest F-35 base worldwide.  In addition to training U.S. pilots, Luke will also serve as an F-35A International Training site. Currently, Luke’s economic impact on the state of Arizona is $2.17 Billion. With 14 F-35 suppliers in the state of Arizona, the program has an additional economic impact of $98Million.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs about 116,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation's net sales for 2012 were $47.2 billion.

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a family of single-seat, single-engine, fifth generation multirole fighters under development to perform ground attack, reconnaissance, and air defense missions with stealth capability. The F-35 has three main models; the F-35A is a conventional takeoff and landing variant, the F-35B is a short take-off and vertical-landing variant, and the F-35C is a carrier-based variant.

The F-35 is descended from the X-35, the product of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. It is being designed and built by an aerospace industry team led by Lockheed Martin. The F-35 took its first flight on 15 December 2006. The United States plans to buy 2,443 aircraft. The F-35 variants are intended to provide the bulk of its tactical airpower for the U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy over the coming decades.


JSF development is being principally funded by the United States with additional funding from partners. The partner nations are either NATO members or close U.S. allies. The United Kingdom, Italy, Israel, Netherlands, Australia, Canada, Norway, Denmark, and Turkey are part of the development program; Japan has ordered the F-35, while Singapore may also equip their air force with the F-35

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Lockheed Martin
*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News 
*Photograph: IPF (International Pool of Friends) + DTN News / otherwise source stated
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
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DTN News: U.S. Forces - Images ~ Afghanistan: U.S. Army Patrols In Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan

DTN News: U.S. Forces - Images ~ Afghanistan: U.S. Army Patrols In Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources U.S. DoD
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - August 2, 2013: U.S. Army Spc. Carlos Tapia checks a crew system equipped with a machine gun before convoy operations on Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistn, July 30, 2013. Tapia is assigned to Alpha Troop, Regimental Support Squadron, Combined Force Dragoon, which provided security during the operation. 


U.S. Army photo by Spc. Joshua Edwards 


*Presented & compiled By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources U.S. DoD
*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News 
*Photograph: IPF (International Pool of Friends) + DTN News / otherwise source stated
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
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DTN News: U.S. Forces - Images ~ Afghanistan: U.S. Marine Patrols In Helmand Province, Afghanistan

DTN News: U.S. Forces - Images ~ Afghanistan: U.S. Marine Patrols In Helmand Province, Afghanistan
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources U.S. DoD
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - August 2, 2013: U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Joseph Nunez and Viky, a military working dog trained to detect improvised explosive devices, search a compound for weapons during Operation Grizzly in Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 18, 2013. Nunez is assigned to Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment. 


U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Alejandro Pena 


*Presented & compiled By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources U.S. DoD
*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News 
*Photograph: IPF (International Pool of Friends) + DTN News / otherwise source stated
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
©COPYRIGHT (C) DTN NEWS DEFENSE-TECHNOLOGY NEWS

DTN News: U.S. Forces - Images ~ Afghanistan: U.S. Marine Patrols In Helmand Province, Afghanistan

DTN News: U.S. Forces - Images ~ Afghanistan: U.S. Marine Patrols In Helmand Province, Afghanistan
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources U.S. DoD
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - August 2, 2013: U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. John J. McConnell searches outside an Afghan compound for weapons during Operation Grizzly in Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 18, 2013. McConnell is assigned to Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment. 


U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Alejandro Pena

*Presented & compiled By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources U.S. DoD
*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News 
*Photograph: IPF (International Pool of Friends) + DTN News / otherwise source stated
*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
©COPYRIGHT (C) DTN NEWS DEFENSE-TECHNOLOGY NEWS