Pentagon’s No.1 weapons supplier Lockheed Martin Corp was awarded a $45.5 million contract modification for support South Korea’s F-35 Lightning II program, according to a statement put out by U.S. Department of Defense.
Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $264,6 million modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract.
A statement from the U.S. Department of Defense claims that this modification provides for the additional operation and technical services in support of the government of Korea’s F-35 Lightning II program. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in June 2020.
The official F-35 site has reported that the stealth F-35A provides the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) an enhanced capability to protect safety and security. South Korea wants the F-35A fighter aircraft to play a key role in South Korea’s preemptive strike system against North Korean missile threats.
The first F-35A for the ROKAF, known as aircraft AW-1, made its public debut in late March 2018 and pilot training begins at Luke AFB, Ariz. in spring 2018.
It is expected that the first two F-35A stealth fighter jets will start to deliver to Chongju Air Base in March 2019 to meet South Korea’s national security requirements.