Lockheed’s Long-Troubled F-35 Shows Improvement, Pentagon Finds
- Seven jets delivered earlier than required by contract in 2019
- Contractor ‘self-reported’ a fastener foul-up to Pentagon
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Lockheed Martin Corp. showed “marked improvement” by delivering its F-35 jets on time -- and sometimes early -- as the No. 1 defense contractor seeks approval for full-rate production decision by December, according to the Pentagon agency that oversees contracts.
The Defense Contract Management Agency said Lockheed delivered 134 of the fighter jets in 2019, seven more than its contractual requirement for the year and three more than its annual “commitment” to the Pentagon program office.