According to information released by the U.S. Department of Defense on June 11, 2020, American Company Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $368,194,942 not-to-exceed, undefinitized contract modification (P00036) to previously awarded fixed-price-incentive-firm-target, firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract N00019-17-C-0001. This modification provides for the procurement of five F-35A Lightning II lot 14 aircraft, one F-35B lot 14 combat aircraft and associated red gear for the government of Italy.
Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link
The F-35B MM7451 during its test flight in full Marina Militare markings Credit: Franco Gualdoni. (Picture source via Twitter account The Aviationist)
Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (35%); Cameri, Italy (28%); El Segundo, California (15%); Warton, United Kingdom (8%); Orlando, Florida (4%); Nashua, New Hampshire (3%); Baltimore, Maryland (3%); San Diego, California (2%); various locations within the continental U.S. (1.3%) and various locations outside the continental U.S. (0.7%). Work is expected to be complete by June 2023.
The Italian Air Force has received its first F-35B SVTOL (Short Take-off and Vertical Landing) Stealth fighter aircraft in February 2020, built at the FACO (Final Assembly and Check-Out) facility in Cameri, Italy. The F-35B will be used by the Italian Navy onboard Cavour aircraft carrier and the LHD (Landing Helicopter Dock) Trieste.
The Italian armed forces have procured a total of 90 F-35 fighter aircraft including 60 F-35A and 30 F-35B, 15 will go to the Navy and 15 to the Air Force. The new fighter aircraft will replace the aging AV-8B+ Harrier.
The F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) variant is the world’s first supersonic STOVL stealth aircraft. It is designed to operate from austere bases and a range of air-capable ships near front-line combat zones. It can also take off and land conventionally from longer runways on major bases. The U.S. Marine Corps' F-35B aircraft reached initial operational capability (IOC) on July 31, 2015, and as of January 2017, a squadron of F-35Bs is permanently based at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan.
The F-35B STOVL operation is made possible through the Rolls-Royce patented shaft-driven LiftFan® propulsion system and an engine that can swivel 90 degrees when in short takeoff/vertical landing mode. Because of the LiftFan®, the STOVL variant has a smaller internal weapon bay and less internal fuel capacity than the F-35A. It uses the probe-and-drogue method of aerial refueling.
