Lockheed Martin and the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) have signed a contract, named the Lightning Air System National Capability Enterprise (LANCE) 23-27, to support the United Kingdom’s F-35 fleet. The contract, valued at approximately £147M, will enhance the availability and capability of the UK F-35 fleet to conduct combat missions worldwide.
Under the LANCE 23-27 contract, BAE Systems will serve as the primary subcontractor to Lockheed Martin. The joint industry team will provide air crew, ground crew and mission planning training; technical and operational support; IT support; supply chain management and expertise; and maintenance capabilities. The capabilities being provided will not only expand maintenance capacity but will also secure more than 140 UK jobs, mainly at RAF Marham, with additional roles contracted within the maintenance teams on site.