Aircraft
New LRIP Contract for F-35 Agreed, as Canada Wavers
Lockheed Martin reached an agreement in principle with the Pentagon for the fifth lot of low-rate initial production F-35s.
An F-35A test aircraft releases an AIM-120 AMRAAM for the first time last October. In recent weeks, F-35s have also dropped the 1,000-pound GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) and the 500-pound GBU-12 Paveway II. (Photo: Lockheed Martin)
An F-35A test aircraft releases an AIM-120 AMRAAM for the first time last October. In recent weeks, F-35s have also dropped the 1,000-pound GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) and the 500-pound GBU-12 Paveway II. (Photo: Lockheed Martin)

After protracted negotiations, Lockheed Martin reached an agreement in principle with the Pentagon for the fifth lot of low-rate initial production F-35s (LRIP-5). The company has reported new flight-test milestones for the Lightning II stealth fighter in recent weeks. But there was less good news from Canada, which is reconsidering its commitment to the F-35 on cost grounds.