Aircraft
Lockheed Martin Balances F-35 Cost Reduction, Profit Goals
The manufacturer is close to concluding a contract for F-35 low-rate initial production lot 10, CEO Marillyn Hewson told analysts.
The red dots on this chart indicate U.S. government budget estimates for the cost of each F-35 fighter, while the yellow dots show the cost as delivered being below these estimates and on track to fall to $85 million per aircraft by 2019. [Chart: Lockheed Martin]
The red dots on this chart indicate U.S. government budget estimates for the cost of each F-35 fighter, while the yellow dots show the cost as delivered being below these estimates and on track to fall to $85 million per aircraft by 2019. [Chart: Lockheed Martin]

Lockheed Martin believes it can balance the cost-reduction expectations the new U.S. administration has set for the F-35 fighter program with its profitability goals. At a January 24 analysts call to announce earnings for the fourth quarter of 2016, company president and CEO Marillyn Hewson indicated that the latest round of talks with President Donald Trump on January 23 bolstered her expectation that Lockheed Martin will soon reach agreement for 90 F-35s under a contract for low-rate initial production (LRIP) lot 10, for which the unit cost of the aircraft is expected to fall below $100 million.

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