The Pentagon awarded Lockheed Martin a $1.27 billion not-to-exceed undefinitized modification to a previously awarded F-35 low-rate initial production contract, according to a contract announcement. The modification will provide for the delivery of three F-35As for the Air Force, six F-35Bs for the Marine Corps, and four F-35Cs for the Navy, the announcement states. Work is expected to be finished by December 2019. The contract modification provides for aircraft added in the Fiscal 2016 budget deliberations process, and combines F-35 buys for the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps.
A semi-autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft drone shot down an air-to-air target in a Dec. 8 test supported by the U.S. Air Force, a notable milestone in the development of the loyal wingman-type drones that will join the fleets of the USAF, other American services, and allies and adversaries.
