{"id":147988,"date":"2026-06-30T04:05:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T22:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/?p=147988"},"modified":"2026-06-30T01:23:53","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T19:53:53","slug":"lockheed-martin-lands-74-million-deal-for-f-35-missile-upgrade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/30\/lockheed-martin-lands-74-million-deal-for-f-35-missile-upgrade\/","title":{"rendered":"Lockheed Martin Lands $74 Million Deal for F-35 Missile Upgrade for These Countries"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BETHESDA-<\/strong> Lockheed Martin<\/a> has received a contract modification worth approximately $74.2 million to finalise the integration of European-developed weapons onto F-35 fighter<\/a> aircraft operated by the United Kingdom and Italy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The agreement finalises four contract line items covering country-specific weapons systems under the F-35 Block 4 modernization programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Awarded by the US Navy<\/a> and announced on 26 June, the deal runs from system functional review through development test completion on the F-35A conventional take-off and landing variant and the F-35B short take-off and vertical landing aircraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It also funds a common tactical data recorder across all three F-35 variants, supporting continued development of critical Block 4 capabilities for the Joint Strike Fighter programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Lockheed
Photo: Lockheed Martin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Contract Covers Final Phase of Sovereign Weapons Integration<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The contract modification provides the United Kingdom and Italy with unique weapons systems integration from the system functional review stage through to development test completion on both the F-35A and F-35B aircraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The work supports continued development of Block 4 warfighting capabilities for the wider Joint Strike Fighter programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the announcement did not name the weapons directly, the work relates to two MBDA-produced systems. These are the Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile and the company’s Spear 3 air-to-surface weapon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Flight Global<\/a>, the latest funding marks another step in completing the long-running European weapons integration effort for the F-35.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The agreement allows both NATO<\/a> allies to field F-35s armed with nationally selected munitions. This approach increases operational flexibility while maintaining full interoperability across coalition operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Lockheed
Photo: USAF<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Tactical Data Recorder Added Across All Variants<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Beyond the missile work, the contract funds the installation of a common tactical data recorder on the F-35A, F-35B, and F-35C variants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The recorder captures detailed mission information, including aircraft performance, sensor activity, electronic warfare events, weapons employment, and pilot inputs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This data supports post-mission debriefing, operational analysis, software verification, and the refinement of future combat tactics. It also feeds the development of upcoming Block 4 software releases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Lockheed
Photo: By Bumper12 – Own work, CC0, https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=121674293<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Meteor and Spear 3 Progress Through Flight Testing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Flight testing has already reached several milestones during the integration campaign. Earlier this year, a US Marine Corps F-35B test example completed a first flight carrying four inert Spear 3 miniature cruise missiles inside one of its internal weapons bays, along with a single Meteor round.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That achievement followed initial sorties flown last December. During those flights, a conventional take-off and landing F-35A carried the scramjet-engined Meteor missile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tests validate both weapon systems before they progress toward operational service under Block 4.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Photo: Airman 1st Class Dominic Tyler 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs. | Wikimedia Commons\nhttps:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:US_Danish_Dutch_F-35A.jpg<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Italy Expands Role Across Both F-35 Variants<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Italy operates both the F-35A and the F-35B, giving it a broader integration footprint than the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The country is supporting Meteor integration on the F-35A, complementing the UK’s work on the F-35B.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Italy also holds a major industrial role in the programme through its Final Assembly and Check-Out facility at Cameri.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The site assembles aircraft for European operators and serves as a regional maintenance, repair, overhaul, and upgrade centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Lockheed
Photo: F-35 Lightning II<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

UK Block 3 Plans Faced Significant Delays<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The United Kingdom originally planned for both the Meteor and Spear 3 to be fully operational on its F-35B fleet as part of the F-35 programme’s Block 3 upgrade package. That timeline has been the subject of significant delay, pushing the capability into the later Block 4 phase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The United Kingdom currently operates a fleet of F-35B aircraft. It has also announced plans to acquire 12 F-35A jets capable of carrying nuclear weapons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Lockheed
Photo: USAF<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Work Continues Through December 2032<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Work under the contract modification is expected to be completed in December 2032. Around 51% of the effort will be carried out in Samlesbury, England, where BAE Systems manufactures the rear fuselage section for every F-35 produced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A further 24% of the work will take place in Fort Worth, Texas. The remaining effort will be completed at other F-35 programme locations across the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Join us on\u00a0Telegram Group\u00a0<\/a>for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on\u00a0Google News<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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