CANBERRA, Australia,
Dec. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/
-- Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon. Linda Reynolds, CSC, and Minister for
Defence Industry, Melissa Price MP, today declared Initial
Operational Capability (IOC) for Australia's F-35As, making Australia the seventh country to declare IOC
for its F-35 fleet. Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) will sustain the
Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) F-35A fleet, which will play a
crucial role in defending Australia's national interests.
This IOC ushers in a new era of Australian air power giving the
RAAF transformational and game-changing capabilities.
"This IOC ushers in a new era of Australian air power that gives
the RAAF transformational and game-changing capabilities," said
Joe North, Lockheed Martin Australia
chief executive. "As the Original Equipment Manufacturer and lead
industry sustainment partner for Australia's F-35A fleet, Lockheed Martin
congratulates the RAAF on achieving this milestone, and we stand
ready to support the fleet with our industry partners."
Bill Brotherton, acting F-35 vice
president and general manager, acknowledged the unwavering
dedication of the joint government and industry team who
contributed to this milestone. "This team's focus on delivering the
most effective, survivable and connected fighter in the world
ensures the sovereign protection of Australia and strengthens the future of the
F-35 coalition," Brotherton said.
The most advanced fighter jet ever built, the F-35 continues to
be a catalyst for the transformation of the Australian Defence
Force, utilizing its sensors and low observable technology to
operate with impunity in contested airspace and fuse a picture of
the battlespace for other air, land and sea assets. Along with its
advanced weapons capacity and superior range, the F-35 offers
unparalleled combat capabilities.
The F-35 program is also a catalyst for evolving Australia's robust and resilient defense
industry capability. With every F-35 manufactured containing
Australian-made parts, more than 50 Australian companies have
benefited from $2.7 billion
Australian dollars ($2 billion) in
contracts for the development, production and sustainment of the
aircraft. The F-35 program creates more than 2,400 high-tech
manufacturing jobs for Australian industry.
With more than 600 aircraft operating from 26 bases and ships
across the globe, the F-35 plays a critical role in today's global
security environment. More than 1,200 pilots and 10,000 maintainers
have been trained on the aircraft. Nine nations have F-35s
operating from their home soil.
Australia currently has a fleet
of 33 F-35As, and RAAF crews have surpassed more than 8,780 flight
hours to date, with more than 45 pilots and 600 maintainers
supporting the fleet.
For additional information, visit www.f35.com.
About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a
global security and aerospace company that employs approximately
110,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the
research, design, development, manufacture, integration and
sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.
For additional information, visit our website:
www.lockheedmartin.com.
Please follow @LMNews on Twitter for the latest announcements
and news across the corporation.
View original content to download
multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/initial-operational-capability-declared-for-australias-raaf-f-35a-301198608.html
SOURCE Lockheed Martin Aeronautics