F-35: Negotiations near end for 6th and 7th production batches

Just to keep you up with where DoD is on the production of the F-35, this story appeared in the Chicago Trib:

Lockheed Martin Co is making "good progress" in negotiations with the Pentagon about the next two batches of F-35 fighter jets and hopes to reach agreement soon, Chief Executive Marillyn Hewson said on Tuesday.

[...]

Air Force Lieutentant General Christopher Bogdan told company officials he wanted to reach agreement on the contracts by the end of July, according to industry sources. It may take some time afterward to finalize and sign the agreements.

The total number of jets involved is 71, with 36 planes to be purchased in the sixth production lot, and 35 in the seventh, said Joe DellaVedova, spokesman for the Pentagon's F-35 office. He said that number includes 60 F-35s for the U.S. military, and 11 for Australia, Italy, Turkey and Britain. 

So, not only more for the US services, but the Aussies, Italians and Turks will get their first F-35s in these two batches (the UK has already received it's first F-35B).  Look for agreements to be in the news soon.

Graff