Back to top

Image: Bigstock

Lockheed (LMT) Wins Navy Contract to Support F-35 Jet Program

Read MoreHide Full Article

Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT - Free Report) recently clinched a modification contract involving F-35 fighter jets. The award has been offered by the Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, MD.

Valued at $18.8 million, the contract is projected to be completed by January 2026. The latest modification allows Lockheed to provide depot tooling and test equipment for establishing the initial depot repair of radio frequency support electronics and multi-function antenna components for the F-35 aircraft.

Work related to this contract will be carried out in Fort Worth, TX. The contract will serve the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps.

Importance of F-35 for LMT

Lockheed Martin enjoys a dominant position in the global military aircraft space with its F-35 fleet. The stealth aircraft boasts features that make it an ideal choice for many nations. The company’s constant efforts to modernize and upgrade the aircraft using advanced technologies to meet current warfare needs, boost demand significantly.

This, in turn, results in a solid contract flow from Pentagon and other U.S. allies for production and other associated support for modernizing and upgradation of the F-35 jets. The latest contract win is a bright example of that.

Impressively, the F-35 program remained the largest revenue generator for the Aeronautics business unit and accounted for 66% of the segment’s net sales in 2022. Lockheed Martin has delivered 894 F-35 airplanes since the program's inception, with 345 jets in the backlog till December 2022.

Looking ahead, LMT expects to deliver 147-153 jets per year in 2023 and 2024, and 156 jets in 2025 and beyond. This should bolster the company’s revenues significantly from the military aircraft field.

Growth Prospects

Per Mordor Intelligence projections, the global military aircraft market is expected to witness a CAGR of more than 4% during 2022-2031. Such projections indicate immense opportunities for Lockheed Martin to reap the benefits of the abovementioned market’s expansion.

Other prominent defense majors involved in the manufacturing of military aircraft are Northrop Grumman (NOC - Free Report) , Airbus Group (EADSY - Free Report) and Textron (TXT - Free Report) , which are also expected to gain from the global military aircraft market’s growth opportunities.

Since its inception, Northrop Grumman has been a pioneer in the development of manned aircraft. From fighter jets and stealth bombers to surveillance and electronic warfare, it has been providing manned solutions to customers worldwide. The company has built some of the world’s most advanced aircraft, ranging from the innovative B-2 Spirit stealth bomber to the game-changing E-2D Advanced Hawkeye.

Its Aeronautics Systems unit is engaged in the design, development, production, integration, sustainment and modernization of advanced aircraft systems. The Mission Systems segment offers advanced mission solutions and multifunction systems like Airborne Early Warning & Control, LONGBOW Fire Control Radar and Scalable Agile Beam Radar.

Airbus Group’s military aircraft consists of the A400M, the C295 tactical transporter, the new-generation A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport and the Eurofighter, the most advanced swing-role fighter ever conceived.

The company has been providing its aircraft customers with an extended portfolio of services for more than 40 years, ranging from the training of flight and ground staff to live firing exercises anywhere around the world.

Textron’s military aircraft includes the Beechcraft T-6 training aircraft and the Beechcraft AT-6 light attack aircraft. The company also manufactures the Beechcraft Model 18 light bomber, the T-44 and T-34 training aircraft, and the T-1A jet trainer.

Its subsidiary, Able Aerospace Services, provides component and maintenance, repair and overhaul services for commercial and military fixed- and rotor-wing aircraft.

Price Movement

Shares of Lockheed have gained 7.8% in the past 12 months against the industry’s 7% decline.

Zacks Investment Research
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Zacks Rank

Lockheed currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Published in