Lockheed Martin has received $80m to support deliveries of fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter jets to the US Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and foreign customers

Lockheed Martin has received additional funding to a previously awarded contract for F-35 Lightning II Lot 17 fighter jets. This was officially announced on the website of the US Department of Defense.

Here's What We Know

The Pentagon has awarded Lockheed Martin $81 million to support the supply of fifth-generation fighter jets. Lot 17 will provide 126 F-35 Lighting II planes for the U.S. Navy, Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, and foreign customers.

Deliveries of Lot 17 will not begin anytime soon. At the end of 2022, Lockheed Martin officially announced the signing of a contract for Lot 15, Lot 16 and Lot 17 - 145, 127 and 126 fighters respectively. Deliveries of F-35 Lot 15 aircraft will begin in the second half of 2023.

Canada has become one of the latest customers of the F-35 Lightning II. It will receive 88 fifth generation fighters (Lot 18). The deal is worth $14.2bn, and Canada is also investing $5.6bn in infrastructure upgrades.

Source: Pentagon