The US Navy has awarded Lockheed Martin a $74.2 million contract modification to integrate UK- and Italy-specific weapon systems into the F-35A and F-35B as part of the Block 4 modernization program for the F-35 Lightning II. The work covers the full integration process, from system functional review through development testing, and also includes the integration of a common tactical data recorder for the F-35A, F-35B, and F-35C variants.
The project will be carried out across multiple locations, with 51 percent of the work taking place in Samlesbury, UK, 24 percent in Fort Worth, Texas, and the remainder at various US facilities. The contract is scheduled for completion by December 2032. Although the Pentagon did not identify the specific weapons, the UK is known to be integrating MBDA’s Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile and SPEAR 3 miniature cruise missile on the F-35B, while Italy is supporting Meteor integration on the F-35A. Italy also continues to play a key role in the F-35 program through its Cameri final assembly and check-out facility, which assembles aircraft and supports sustainment for European operators.
