Pentagon awards second UCA for Lot 11

The Pentagon recently awarded a second undefinitized contract action worth $3.7 billion to provide initial funding for F-35 low-rate initial production Lot 11 jets.

Lot 11 procures 141 F-35s beginning in 2019 through 2020. There are 91 jets for the services, 28 F-35s for international partners and 22 F-35s for foreign military sales customers, according to a July 28 joint program office statement.

"Final aircraft prices for each customer's variant will be determined upon final negotiations targeted for the end of this calendar year. We are confident that the final negotiated Lot 11 aircraft unit prices will be less than Lot 10," the statement reads.

A separate Lot 11 propulsion contract between the Pentagon and Pratt & Whitney is currently being negotiated. The JPO expects to complete negotiations and definitize both LRIP Lot 11 contracts with Lockheed Martin and Pratt & Whitney by the end of 2017.

Earlier this month, the Pentagon awarded a contract worth up to $5.5 billion as part of Lot 11. The total amount of the UCA for the contract is $9.2 billion.