F-35 program updates

[spazsinbad]

Navy Winds Up F-35Cs Development Tests On USS Eisenhower
12 Oct 2015 Colin Clark

"...Also, DellaVedova said in an email that the program stressed the airframe of the F-35A, the Air Force version, for the equivalent of two lifetimes. The test, known as the F-35A Full Airframe Durability Test Article (AJ-1) finished the day before we flew to the Ike, completing 16,000 hours of maneuver and buffet loads cycling."

Source: http://breakingdefense.com/2015/10/navy ... isenhower/

[bring_it_on]

The HASC hearing is at 3:30PM EST. Here's a link to their YouTube channel -

[Dragon029]

For anyone interested, I've been slowly (I'm a bit busy today) going through the video and linking individual questions and writing rough summaries of what was asked and answered over on Reddit.

[tritonprime]

"Top F-35 leader to help Lockheed absorb Sikorsky"
by Max B. Baker
Oct 29, 2015

Source:
http://www.star-telegram.com/news/busin ... 873685.htm

FORT WORTH--Lorraine Martin, who oversaw steady improvement in Lockheed Martin’s F-35 program as executive vice president and general manager, is being promoted to help the aerospace giant with its acquisition of the Sikorsky helicopter business.

Martin, who has worked on the F-35 program for four years, will serve in a newly-created job as deputy executive vice president for Mission Systems and Training, the division that is set to absorb Sikorsky, which Lockheed agreed to buy in July for $9 billion.

Martin will be replaced in Fort Worth by Jeff Babione, who has been serving as Deputy General Manager on the F-35 program. He will lead the development, production and sustainment efforts across the fighter jet’s three variants.

Babione will oversee the anticipated ramping up of production at the Lockheed plant west of Fort Worth as well as achieving initial operational capability, or “combat ready” status, for the jet by the United States Air Force in 2016 and the Navy in 2018.

"For the past three years Jeff Babione has served as Lorraine’s deputy. He has the skills and leadership necessary to continue the advancements we’re making in the F-35 program". Lt. Gen. Chris Bogdan, F-35 program executive officer

“He brings a deep understanding of the F-35 program, strong customer relationships and a collaborative leadership style that will ensure we continue the positive momentum of the program,” said Orlando Carvalho, executive vice president at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics.

Martin stepped into a leadership role with the F-35, the nation’s most expensive weapons system, after it had been rocked by cost overruns and technical failures. At one time, the F-35 ran so far over budget and fell so far behind schedule that the Pentagon put the program on probation in 2010.

Eventually, two years were added to the program, along with $4.5 billion more for development. Since the probation was lifted in 2012, performance has improved and the F-35 program has won praise from its customers.

Earlier this month, Martin said the program has been able to “meet all of our milestones,” including the fighter being declared combat ready by the Marines, while also bringing down the costs.

Martin’s new job will include a significant increase in responsibility, the company said. Currently the Systems and Training division is a $7.2 billion business with more than 18,000 employees. But it will double in revenue and workforce once the Sikorsky acquisition is completed, Lockheed officials said.

“I congratulate Lorraine on her new position. Since 2013 we worked together on the F-35 program to deliver a world-class weapons system to the warfighter and improve government and contractor relations,” said Lt. Gen. Chris Bogdan, the F-35 program executive officer.

Read more at the source.

[Dragon029]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/11/ ... OJ20151103

Lockheed wins preliminary deal worth up to $5.37 billion for more F-35s

Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) has won a preliminary contract valued at up to $5.37 billion to build a ninth batch of 55 F-35 jets for the U.S. military and its allies, the U.S. Defense Department said on Tuesday.
...

That's $97.6 million per airframe (average of all 3 variants; roughly 3/4 are A models). By comparison, LRIP 8 was $4.7 billion for 43 airframe; $109.3 million per airframe, with 2/3 being A models.

[spazsinbad]

Another look... Was there a wait for the BUDGET for US Mil to Pass - or irrelevant?

Lockheed Gets $5.37B for 55 F-35 Fighters
03 Nov 2015 Christopher P. Cavas

"WASHINGTON — Contracts worth $5.37 billion have been awarded to Lockheed Martin to produce 55 Lot IX F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, the Pentagon announced Tuesday evening.

A total of 41 F-35A conventional ground-based aircraft were ordered, including 26 for the US Air Force, six for Norway, seven for Israel and two for Japan.

Twelve F-35B Short Takeoff and Vertical Landing aircraft were ordered, six for the US Marine Corps and six for the United Kingdom.

Another two F-35C carrier-based variants were ordered for the US Navy.

The aircraft are to be delivered by December 2017, according to a Pentagon contract announcement.

While most of the work will be done in the US, some will be done in foreign countries — 20 percent in Warton, UK, and five percent in Nagoya, Japan.

The contract includes funding from the US military services and from foreign military sales accounts."

Source: http://www.defensenews.com/story/defens ... /75128086/

[weasel1962]

Looks like the 1A1B Italy order did not happen.

[joost]

Looks like the 1A1B Italy order did not happen.

Indeed no Italians. Which is strange because I remember an article about parts being built of the first STOVL. Maybe the order will be added later for the Italians, or they do not count the production of the FACO facility at Cameri in this total order.

See here the article about the aft fuselage:

https://www.f35.com/news/detail/bae-sys ... -air-force

Also there were negotiations mention in June for lot 9 and 10 for buth 2 aircraft per lot for IT.

So my guess is that the 55 aircraft are the aircraft build by LM at FW, and exclude any foreign production.

[gabriele]

I think the italian aircraft will be added later as contract modification. It has already happened at least once, if i recall right.

1 F-35A and 1 F-35B were in the 2014 Long Lead contract.

Didn't the final 2015 DoD budget provide for 28 F-35A and 4 F-35C...? Will they also appear later as contract modification, i wonder?

[spazsinbad]

Lockheed receives funding for 55 F-35s as negotiations continue
04 Nov 2015 James Drew

"...The F-35 joint programme office and Lockheed expect to conclude negotiations for low-rate initial production lots nine and 10 by the end of the calendar year. The $625 million obligated on 3 November essentially bridges the financial gap between the start of the US government fiscal year on 1 October and the final agreement, Lockheed officials confirm.

"Both LRIP Lots 9 and 10 airframe and engine contract negotiations are nearing completion and contract award is anticipated later this year for LRIP Lot 9, and once the DOD budget is authorised and appropriated, we will be ready to award the LRIP Lot 10 contract sometime at the beginning of the new year," F-35 chief Lt Gen Christopher Bogdan said in written testimony to Congress last month."

Source: https://www.flightglobal.com/news/artic ... io-418607/

[neptune]

Lockheed receives funding for 55 LRIP 9 F-35s, negotiations continue

04 NOVEMBER, 2015 BY: JAMES DREW WASHINGTON DC

The Pentagon has awarded $625 million to Lockheed Martin to continue producing the ninth low-rate production batch of F-35s while negotiations on a final contract price continue.
As part of a not-to-exceed $5.37 billion “undefinitised contractual action” announced by the DOD yesterday, the award supports production of 55 jets, including 34 for the US services and 21 for international buyers.

It procures 41 F-35As combine for the US Air Force (26), Israel (seven), Norway (six) and Japan (two). Twelve F-35Bs are being manufactured for the US Marine Corps (six) and British Royal Navy (six), and the US Navy will receive two carrier-variant F-35Cs.


The F-35 joint programme office and Lockheed expect to conclude negotiations for low-rate initial production lots nine and 10 by the end of the calendar year. The $625 million obligated on 3 November essentially bridges the financial gap between the start of the US government fiscal year on 1 October and the final agreement, Lockheed officials confirm.

"Both LRIP Lots 9 and 10 airframe and engine contract negotiations are nearing completion and contract award is anticipated later this year for LRIP Lot 9, and once the DOD budget is authorised and appropriated, we will be ready to award the LRIP Lot 10 contract sometime at the beginning of the new year," F-35 chief Lt Gen Christopher Bogdan said in written testimony to Congress last month.

[spazsinbad]

Clarity perhaps.

Lockheed Gets Nod for $5B JSF Deal
04 Nov 2015 Christopher P. Cavas

"...Under an "undefinitized contractual action" (UCA) agreed on Tuesday, $625 million in fiscal year 2015 money is being moved to Lockheed to cover company expenses spent thus far on the Lot IX aircraft. The full contract is being negotiated under a not-to-exceed limit of $5.37 billion.

"The government's negotiating position is that the final number will be below that figure," DellaVedova said. "We're confident that the final terms of the contract will represent the best interests of the government and its partners."

Earlier, $698 million in advance procurement funding was awarded for Lot IX using fiscal 2014 money.

A previous story announcing a contract award was due to confusion over the wording of a Pentagon announcement, [what is wrong with them - I have given up on unnerstanning US Budget matters - long ago?] DellaVedova acknowledged....

...The contract with Lockheed does not include engines for the aircraft, which are being negotiated separately with Pratt and Whitney.

"We also expect a hand-shake agreement with P&W by the end of this year, and we'll definitize that contract in early 2016," DellaVedova said.

All Lot IX aircraft are expected to be delivered by the end of 2017."

Source: http://www.defensenews.com/story/defens ... /75128086/

[gabriele]

Not really clear yet. The couple of italian aircraft still not mentioned, and nothing said of the additional 2 USAF F-35A and 2 additional F-35C.

[neptune]

Not really clear yet...

Perhaps a little clarity...a contract modification...

http://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/C ... cle/627545

Contracts

Release No: CR-211-15
November 3, 2015

NAVY

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded an undefinitized contractual action not-to-exceed $5,370,955,495.00 to the previously awarded low-rate initial production Lot IX F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter advance acquisition contract (N00019-14-C-0002).

This modification provides for the procurement of:

41 F-35A aircraft; including 26 for the Air Force; 6 for Norway; 7 for Israel; 2 for Japan;

12 F-35B aircraft; including 6 for the Marine Corps and 6 for the British Royal Navy;

2 F-35C aircraft; including 2 for the Navy.

55 JSF aircraft

Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (30 percent); El Segundo, California (25 percent); Warton, United Kingdom (20 percent); Orlando, Florida (10 percent); Nashua, New Hampshire (5 percent); Nagoya, Japan (5 percent); and Baltimore, Maryland (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2017.

Fiscal 2016 aircraft procurement (Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy); and non-U.S. Department of Defense participants and foreign military sales funds in the amount of $625,099,999, are being obligated on this award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.

The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

I know there are arguments fed when I do the following;

$5,370,955,495.00 / 55 = $97,653,736.27 ea. "not to exceed"

No, the final prices have not been settled but the "go ahead" to build the 55 airplanes "IS".

[weasel1962]

Just wanted to highlight that lot 8 included cameri numbers so the exclusion in lot 9 is not likely because they don't count Italy. Agree that does not mean there cannot be a further contract mod to include Italy down the road.