We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Lockheed Martin (LMT) Wins $23M Deal to Support F-35 Program
Read MoreHide Full Article
Lockheed Martin Corp’s. (LMT - Free Report) business unit, Aeronautics, recently secured a modification contract for supporting integration of Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers into the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter program. The award has been offered by the Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, MD.
Valued at $23 million, the contract is expected to be completed in March 2025. The services to be provided by the Aeronautics unit will include country-specific production support, modifications, logistics and sustainment services involving F-35 jets. Majority of the work related to the deal will be carried out in Fort Worth, TX, and Nagoya, Japan.
Rise in Demand Aids F-35 Program
The rise in global terrorism and adverse geopolitical situations have increased the need for enhancing the nation's defense budget, a major portion of which is allocated to combat aircraft. To this end, it is imperative to mention that the F-35 program is supported by an international team of leading aerospace majors, including Northrop Grumman (NOC - Free Report) , BAE Systems (BAESY - Free Report) and Pratt & Whitney, a unit of Raytheon Technologies (RTX - Free Report) . Northrop Grumman renders its expertise in carrier aircraft and low-observable stealth technology to this program. BAE Systems’ short takeoff and vertical landing experience, and air systems sustainment support the jet’s combat capabilities, whereas Pratt & Whitney offers its combat-proven engine to this jet.
Such features have enabled the F-35 jet to dominate the combat aircraft market, buoyed by solid demand, as is evident from the frequent contract wins involving the F-35 program and its associated upgrades, both from Pentagon and other U.S. allies. The latest contract win is a bright example of that.
Growth Prospects of F-35 Program
The F-35 program’s importance across the globe is widespread, with the program having eight international program partners, namely the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Australia, Norway, Denmark and Canada. Additionally, it has six Foreign Military Sales customers that are procuring and operating the F-35 — Israel, Japan, South Korea, Poland, Belgium and Singapore. This demonstrates the huge demand this jet program enjoys worldwide.
As of Mar 28, 2021, Lockheed Martin delivered 628 F-35 airplanes since the program's inception with 339 jets still in the backlog. This surely boosts sales expectations for the Aeronautics business segment in the coming days.
Interestingly, the production of F-35 jets is expected to continue for many years, given the U.S. government's current inventory target of 2,456 aircraft for the Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy. Consequently, we expect Lockheed Martin to witness more order inflows for F-35 and its associated upgrades, like the latest one, which in turn should bolster this defense contractor’s top line.
Image: Bigstock
Lockheed Martin (LMT) Wins $23M Deal to Support F-35 Program
Lockheed Martin Corp’s. (LMT - Free Report) business unit, Aeronautics, recently secured a modification contract for supporting integration of Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers into the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter program. The award has been offered by the Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, MD.
Valued at $23 million, the contract is expected to be completed in March 2025. The services to be provided by the Aeronautics unit will include country-specific production support, modifications, logistics and sustainment services involving F-35 jets. Majority of the work related to the deal will be carried out in Fort Worth, TX, and Nagoya, Japan.
Rise in Demand Aids F-35 Program
The rise in global terrorism and adverse geopolitical situations have increased the need for enhancing the nation's defense budget, a major portion of which is allocated to combat aircraft. To this end, it is imperative to mention that the F-35 program is supported by an international team of leading aerospace majors, including Northrop Grumman (NOC - Free Report) , BAE Systems (BAESY - Free Report) and Pratt & Whitney, a unit of Raytheon Technologies (RTX - Free Report) . Northrop Grumman renders its expertise in carrier aircraft and low-observable stealth technology to this program. BAE Systems’ short takeoff and vertical landing experience, and air systems sustainment support the jet’s combat capabilities, whereas Pratt & Whitney offers its combat-proven engine to this jet.
Such features have enabled the F-35 jet to dominate the combat aircraft market, buoyed by solid demand, as is evident from the frequent contract wins involving the F-35 program and its associated upgrades, both from Pentagon and other U.S. allies. The latest contract win is a bright example of that.
Growth Prospects of F-35 Program
The F-35 program’s importance across the globe is widespread, with the program having eight international program partners, namely the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Australia, Norway, Denmark and Canada. Additionally, it has six Foreign Military Sales customers that are procuring and operating the F-35 — Israel, Japan, South Korea, Poland, Belgium and Singapore. This demonstrates the huge demand this jet program enjoys worldwide.
As of Mar 28, 2021, Lockheed Martin delivered 628 F-35 airplanes since the program's inception with 339 jets still in the backlog. This surely boosts sales expectations for the Aeronautics business segment in the coming days.
Interestingly, the production of F-35 jets is expected to continue for many years, given the U.S. government's current inventory target of 2,456 aircraft for the Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy. Consequently, we expect Lockheed Martin to witness more order inflows for F-35 and its associated upgrades, like the latest one, which in turn should bolster this defense contractor’s top line.
Price Movement and Zacks Rank
Shares of Lockheed Martin, a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company, have gained 6.8% in the year to date period compared with the industry’s growth of 8.1%. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research