Pentagon, Lockheed finalize F-35 fifth batch contract

PanARMENIAN.Net - The U.S. Defense Department said on Friday, Dec 14, it has finalized a contract for the purchase of a fifth batch of radar-evading F-35 fighter aircraft from Lockheed Martin Corp., a deal worth $3.8 billion for 32 of the advanced planes, according to Reuters. The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is the costliest weapons program in US history.

The Pentagon will pay about $107 million apiece, or about 4 percent less than the previous contract, for each of the 22 conventional takeoff and landing jets in the deal, sources familiar with the agreement said this week.

It paid $111.6 million for the Air Force version of the plane in the previous contract.

The deal, the fifth Low Rate Initial Production contract, also includes three Marine Corps versions of the plane, which can land vertically, and seven Navy models, which can be used on aircraft carriers.