Lockheed Martin and Germany have signed the first contract under the $9bn F-35 Lightning II fifth-generation fighter aircraft acquisition programme

Lockheed Martin has received more than $600 million in the programme of purchases of fifth-generation fighter jets F-35Lightning II by Germany. This is reported by the US Department of Defence.

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Valued at $622 million, the contract aims to provide programme management, meet non-recurring unique requirements and support the German government's efforts to integrate the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter into the project.

The contract runs through December 2027. Most of the work will take place at Lockheed Martin's facilities in Texas. The agreement will also involve the company's facilities in South Carolina and Florida.

Germany officially announced the purchase of the F-35A Lightning II in mid-December 2022. The agreement was worth €8.3bn ($9bn). The purchase of the fifth-generation fighters will be financed from a special fund of €8.3bn ($109bn) that was created to modernise the German armed forces.

The agreement involves the purchase of more than just 35 aircraft. The deal includes AGM-158B/B2 and AIM-120 missiles, as well as 37 Pratt & Whittney F135-PW-100 engines, two of which will be spares.

Production of the centre fuselage parts for the German F-35 Lightning IIs will be set up in Germany itself. For this purpose, Rheinmetall will build a $220 million plant. Work began on 1 August 2023.

Source: Pentagon