F-2 contract for Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin recently received a $150m contract from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) to manufacture components for five additional F-2 production aircraft. MHI is the prime contractor for the F-2, Japan’s operational support fighter.

‘Japan selected the Lockheed Martin F-16 multi-role fighter in 1987 as the basis for the joint Japan-US design of a new support fighter for the Japan Air Self Defence Force (JASDF), and Lockheed Martin began delivery of production airframe and avionics components and other F-2 systems to MHI in 1998,’ said Jim Shidler, Lockheed Martin F-2 program director.

The Japanese government recently authorised the total production of 94 F-2 aircraft, and this new award to Lockheed Martin brings the total aircraft under contract to 86.

Lockheed Martin is producing components for 81 F-2 aircraft from those orders initiated under the 10 previous annual contracts.

Under this new contract, the company will provide all of the aft fuselages, wing leading-edge flaps and stores management systems; 80 percent of all left-hand wing boxes; and other avionics and avionics support equipment.