{"id":21001,"date":"2019-06-10T18:14:54","date_gmt":"2019-06-10T18:14:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2019\/06\/10\/lockheed-pentagon-reach-handshake-agreement-on-first-f-35-multiyear-buy\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T21:56:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T21:56:09","slug":"lockheed-pentagon-reach-handshake-agreement-on-first-f-35-multiyear-buy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/air\/2019\/06\/10\/lockheed-pentagon-reach-handshake-agreement-on-first-f-35-multiyear-buy\/","title":{"rendered":"Lockheed, Pentagon reach handshake agreement on next F-35 lot, paving the way for an $80M jet next year"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Department of Defense have reached a handshake agreement<\/a> on the next lot of F-35 joint strike fighters, an agreement that for the first time includes options for customers <\/a>to purchase additional aircraft over the next few years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a statement, Pentagon acquisition head Ellen Lord called the agreement, worth $34 billion over lots 12, 13 and 14 for 478 aircraft, a \u201chistoric milestone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The agreement includes 157 jets in lot 12, and comes with an estimated 8.8 percent Unit Recurring Flyaway cost savings from the previous lot. While the Pentagon did not provide costs per aircraft in its news release, that would amount to about $81 million per F-35A conventional takeoff and landing model compared to $89.2 million for an F-35A in lot 11.<\/p>\n\n\n\t