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The U.S. Defense Department’s F-35 Lightning II program has awarded prime contractor Lockheed Martin [LMT] a $1.4 billion contract to sustain the stealthy fighter jet for another year, the Pentagon announced late April 30.The contract will provide maintenance and other support activities for aircraft delivered to the U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy and non-U.S. forces. Lockheed Martin said it is taking “aggressive actions” to improve the F-35’s availability and reduce sustainment costs. Those actions include expanding the supply chain,…
