The U.S. Navy has awarded aerospace giant Lockheed Martin a $153.9 million contract to begin procuring long-lead materials and components for 11 F-35 stealth fighter jets destined for an unidentified foreign customer.

According to the Pentagon announcement, the purchase is being made through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program, but the identity of the purchasing nation was not disclosed.

The contract does not cover the full production of the aircraft. Instead, it funds the acquisition of materials, parts, and other components that require lengthy manufacturing timelines, allowing production to proceed without delays once a final aircraft contract is executed.

The agreement is a modification to an existing contract between Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy, which manages the F-35 program.

Most of the work will be carried out in Fort Worth, Texas, where Lockheed Martin assembles the F-35, along with additional facilities in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Italy. The contract also includes work at the Cameri Final Assembly and Check-Out facility in Italy, one of the primary European production and assembly centers for the F-35 program. The work is expected to be completed by December 2030.

The secrecy surrounding the buyer has sparked speculation among defense analysts. While the Pentagon provided no details identifying the customer, Belgium is widely viewed as a leading possibility.

Last year, Belgium announced plans to expand its F-35 fleet by purchasing 11 additional F-35A aircraft, increasing its total inventory from 34 to 45 jets. Lockheed Martin has also publicly referenced Belgium’s intention to acquire 11 more aircraft.

Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken further fueled speculation in February when he stated that Belgium intended to sign a contract this year for 11 additional F-35s and hoped the purchase would be “as European as possible,” including involvement from the Cameri facility in Italy.

For now, however, the Pentagon has not officially confirmed the identity of the customer behind the latest F-35 deal.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)