The U.S. Department of Defense has announced that Lockheed Martin has been awarded $31 million for sustainment services for Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F-35 Lightning II aircraft.

According to a statement, Lockheed Martin is awarded $31,3 million for modification P00044 to a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00019-16-C-0004) for sustainment services for F-35 Lightning II low-rate initial production Lot X aircraft for the government of Australia.  

Also noted that work will be performed in Williamtown, Australia, and is expected to be completed in January 2021.

The F-35A Joint Strike Fighter is the Australian Defence Force’s first fifth-generation air combat capability. It is a highly advanced multi-role, supersonic, stealth fighter which will meet Australia’s requirements to defeat current and emerging threats.

The F-35A is at the forefront of air combat technology. Its advanced sensors and data fusion allows it to gather more information and share it with other Air Force aircraft, Navy ships and Army units quicker than ever before. This will greatly enhance the Australian Defence Force’s situational awareness and combat effectiveness. In addition, to greatly enhanced situational awareness, the F-35A provides its pilots with significantly higher levels of lethality and survivability in combat.

The Australian Government has approved the acquisition of 72 Conventional Take-Off and Landing F-35A aircraft to replace the ageing F/A-18A/B Hornet fleet.

The first F-35A aircraft was accepted into Australian service in 2018 and the first squadron, Number 3 Squadron, will be operational in 2021. All 72 aircraft are expected to be fully operational by 2023.