The Federal Government has reached a five-year, $91 million agreement with Lockheed Martin Australia which will streamline operational support for Australia’s F-35A aircraft.
Defence Minister Linda Reynolds said the support agreement for the F-35A Autonomic Logistics Information System – an off-board information system that provides fault diagnosis, maintenance management, supply support, and mission planning and training management – will ensure the efficient delivery of sustainment support for the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter aircrafts, consolidating existing arrangements provided through the United States F-35 Joint Program Office and into one Australian-managed contract with Lockheed Martin Australia.
“This is a significant milestone towards achieving initial operating capacity for the F-35A,” Minister Reynolds said.
“It delivers a more responsive and cost-effective solution for key aspects of Australian F-35A maintenance management, and will create up to 60 jobs, in the Canberra, Adelaide, Hunter and Katherine regions.”
Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price said the agreement will result in the creation of more Australian jobs in the JSF program.
“There are more than 50 Australian companies delivering parts fitted to every JSF globally, sharing $1.3 billion in work,” Minister Price said.
“This number is expected to almost double to $2 billion by 2023 and employ 5,000 people across Australia.”
