The US Department of Defense has awarded Lockheed Martin a $177.49 million contract to build three F-35 flight sciences test aircraft. These aircraft will support Block 4 upgrades across all variants—F-35A, F-35B, and F-35C. Acting as flying laboratories, they will carry advanced sensors and instrumentation to evaluate aerodynamics, structural performance, and system integration. The project will be executed across multiple international locations and is expected to be completed by 2031.
