Pentagon finalizes $7.8 billion in F-35 contracts with Lockheed

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/27/us-lockheed-fighter-idUSBRE98Q18720130927



Pentagon finalizes $7.8 billion in F-35 contracts with Lockheed
By Andrea Shalal-Esa
WASHINGTON | Fri Sep 27, 2013 7:02pm EDT

(Reuters) - The Pentagon on Friday said it had finalized two contracts with Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) valued at $7.8 billion for 71 more F-35 fighter jets, citing what it called significant reductions in the cost of the new radar-evading warplane.

The U.S. Defense Department said it signed a $4.4 billion contract for a sixth batch of 36 F-35 aircraft, with the average cost of the planes down 2.5 percent from the previous deal. All but $743 million of that amount had already been awarded to the company under a preliminary contract.

The two sides also signed a $3.4 billion contract for 35 aircraft in a seventh batch, which reflected a 6 percent drop in the average price from the fifth group, it said in a statement.

The Pentagon's F-35 program office said the cost of each F-35 conventional takeoff A-model jet would drop to $98 million in the seventh batch of jets, excluding the engine, from $103 million in the sixth lot. It marks the first time the price of the jet will have dipped below $100 million.



unhappycamper comment: This camper maintains that this pig costs around $243,000,000, but I do not know if the $250 grand helmet is included (after it's fixed).