Forum: General F-35 Forum

Lockheed wins $237 million more for F-35 work (2012-May-07) (Reuters)

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/woub/ ... .F-35.work

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Lockheed Martin Corp has won $237 million in extra funding for a fourth batch of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters to account for changes to the hardware and software of the stealthy, supersonic new warplanes, the Pentagon said on Monday....

"...The U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing on the new warplane, the Pentagon's costliest weapons program, on Tuesday afternoon.

Vice Admiral David Venlet, who runs the program for the U.S. government, is expected to provide an update on the program and several technical issues, including problems with the helmet worn by F-35 pilots, and the tailhook that helps stop the aircraft carrier variant of the plane...."

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Mmm...I think there'd be a tendency to read that as "Lockmart get paid to fix their mistakes with the tailhook and helmet" whereas in fact it's "Lockmart get paid more money to deliver more stuff. Meanwhile, expect announcements on fixing stuff that's wrong a bit later.

Bit of a difference.

Anyone know the average cost to retrofit fixes on the early jets?

Popcorn,

Back in April a contract for $114.2 Million to upgrade 29 aircraft (LRIP 1-3?) which comes to $3.9 Million per aircraft.

this contract for $237 if for LRIP 4, which is 31 aircraft I think, which comes to $7.6 Million per aircraft.

or for LRIP 1-4 it averages $5.9 Million per aircraft. Also the Reuters article said the $237 is a cap, meaning above that LM pays for it.

Sufa Viper

While the Helmet work affects all the jets, the Hook money only goes to the F-35Cs.

popcorn wrote:

Anyone know the average cost to retrofit fixes on the early jets?

Aren't we talking changing peripherals and software, not retrofits, here?

stobiewan wrote:

Mmm...I think there'd be a tendency to read that as "Lockmart get paid to fix their mistakes with the tailhook and helmet" whereas in fact it's "Lockmart get paid more money to deliver more stuff. Meanwhile, expect announcements on fixing stuff that's wrong a bit later.

Bit of a difference.

Well I left it open for all to interpret in their own preferred way, just like you did! Wink

sufaviper wrote:

Popcorn,

Back in April a contract for $114.2 Million to upgrade 29 aircraft (LRIP 1-3?) which comes to $3.9 Million per aircraft.

this contract for $237 if for LRIP 4, which is 31 aircraft I think, which comes to $7.6 Million per aircraft.

or for LRIP 1-4 it averages $5.9 Million per aircraft. Also the Reuters article said the $237 is a cap, meaning above that LM pays for it.

Sufa Viper

From the other thread... $1B divided over 63 jets = $15.9M.

Lockheed’s Next F-35 Tied to Testing Progress, U.S. Says y Tony Capaccio - May 9, 2012

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-0 ... -says.html

"The next contracts for Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT)’s F-35 jet, the U.S.’s costliest weapons program, will be tied more closely than previous ones to testing, assembly and software progress, the Pentagon’s program manager for the fighter said today.

Six of the 31 aircraft in the next round won’t be awarded until Lockheed Martin, the world’s biggest defense contractor, meets at least five criteria, including successful review this year of the latest software release, Vice Admiral David Venlet told the Senate Armed Services Committee’s airpower panel, according to a prepared statement.

The steps are the latest efforts to control costs for the $395.7 billion acquisition program. The first four contracts for 63 jets are exceeding their combined target cost by $1 billion, according to congressional auditors.

Forum: General F-35 Forum

Lockheed wins $237 million more for F-35 work + HELMET/HOOK