"The contract for the acquisition of the value of 920.350.132 dollars includes materials, spare parts and components for the manufacture (low production rate) and delivery of the 94 F-35 Lightning II".
Fifty-five aircraft will go to the US Navy and the Marine Corps. The other fighters will be divided between Australia, Norway, Italy, the United Kingdom and Turkey.
That defined as "low-rate initial production", is a phase in which the main acquisitions are delivered in limited quantities to carry out operational evaluation tests before proceeding with mass production.
According to Lockheed, the limited production order will be completed by 2019. The 26 last May, the United States and the United Kingdom have started the final phase of the tests to verify the capabilities of the F-35 to conduct amphibious aircraft carrier operations.
The Marine Corps equipped with the F-35B, will reach the Initial Operational Capacity as soon as the first squad consisting of 10-16 aircraft will be formed, with infantry and crews trained to perform close air support missions, interdiction, armed reconnaissance and support with land forces. The F-35B's entry into service is set for the next 15 in July.
The Air Force will reach F-35A's Initial Operational Capacity as soon as the first 12-24 aircraft squadron has been formed, with trained aviators and crews capable of carrying out close, suspended, and suppressed air support missions and destruction of enemy anti-aircraft defenses. The F-35A will reach Initial Operational Capacity between August and December of the 2016.
Finally, the US Navy, equipped with the F-35Cs, will reach its initial operational capacity as soon as the first squadron of 10 aircraft will be formed, with personnel and pilots of the navy trained and able to carry out the assigned missions. The F-35C will reach the initial operational capacity between August 2018 and February 2019.
The 55 years of life of the F-35 hunt will cost US $ 1500 billions of dollars.
In addition to the United States, hunting has been ordered from Great Britain, Australia, Italy, Turkey, Norway, the Netherlands, Japan, South Korea and Israel.
Franco Iacch
(photo: USMC / Lockheed Martin)
