Lockheed Martin awarded $23M contract to integrate the government of Belgium into F-35 enterprise

April 2020 news defense aviation aerospace air force industry
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Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $22,902,038 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract that integrates the government of Belgium into the F-35 Lightning II combat aircraft enterprise.

Lockheed Martin awarded 23M contract to integrate the government of Belgium into F 35 enterprise F-35 Lightning II (Picture source: US Air Force)

Work will be performed at Fort Worth, Texas (60%); Orlando, Florida (10%); Redondo Beach, California (10%); El Segundo, California (10%); and Lancashire, United Kingdom (10%), and covers initial non-recurring engineering and program support for F-35 production, logistics and sustainment. This is part of the government of Belgium's $5.1 billion agreement with the U.S. government for the procurement of the F-35 air system. Work is expected to be complete by September 2023.

On October 2018, it was officially announced that Belgium has selected the F-35 as its next-generation fighter to replace its fleet of F-16. With the Belgian government’s selection of the F-35A, Belgium became the 13th nation to join the F-35 program of record.

Belgium’s allies – the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Italy U.K., and U.S. – are F-35 program participants. For this reason, the aircraft serves as the ultimate solution for interoperability with NATO and other allied assets. From logistics and capability to the capacity to conduct coalition activities and peacekeeping operations, this advanced 5th Gen aircraft positions Belgium favorably for current and future missions.

The foundation of Belgium’s F-35 program is rooted in longstanding, reliable partnerships with the government and industry. The Belgian Air Force began flying the F-16 Fighting Falcon and C-130 Hercules in the 1970s. More than 40 years later, this strong partnership lives on in the Lightning II.

Across Belgium’s three regions, Lockheed Martin continues to actively work with dozens of Belgian companies on expanding business opportunities, signifying a strong commitment to exploring industrial cooperation in high-technology defense, aerospace, cyber and security sectors. Within Belgium, there are also six higher education institutions that are included in the industrial participation program.