Turkey’s defense ministry placed a firm order for the first two F-35A Lightning IIs for the Turkish air force, the country’s government announced. “Turkey continues her forecast of the acquisition of 100 F-35A aircraft as planned and declared previously,” according to an official April 6 release. The Block-3F jets constructed as part of low-rate initial production lot 10 are slated for delivery next year. Lockheed Martin sub-contractor Turkish Aerospace delivered its first F-35 center fuselage section late last year. Turkey is one of the program’s nine development partners, and in addition to its substantial share in production is seeking to capture sustainment work for “all F-35 users around the region,” according to the release. Turkey’s planned F-35 procurement is valued at roughly $16 billion, reported Reuters.
Anduril and General Atomics will develop their Collaborative Combat Aircraft for the Air Force, beating out Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman, the service announced on April 24. But any of the non-selected companies can compete to actually manufacture the eventual design, the Air Force said.