New 12 Aug 13, F-35 LRIP 6 contract for... a lot of money

$852M

So how is LRIP-6 4pc less than LRIP-5?

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a not-to-exceed $852,298,021 undefinitized modification to the previously awarded Low Rate Initial Production Lot 6 Advance Acquisition contract (N00019-11-C-0083). This modification provides for the procurement of special tooling and special test equipment for the U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force and the international partners, which is critical to preserving the current F-35 delivery schedules and meeting future production rates. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (30 percent); El Segundo, Calif. (20 percent); Wharton, United Kingdom (20 percent); Turin, Italy (15 percent); Nashua, N.H. (8 percent); and Baltimore, Md. (7 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2016. Fiscal 2011 Aircraft Procurement, Air Force, fiscal 2011 and 2012 Aircraft Procurement Navy, and International Partner contract funds in the amount of $639,223,516 will be obligated at time of award, $515,865,111 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.