Lockheed to build first international F-35 trainers
By KAREN WALKER
July 07, 2009
Lockheed Martin is to deliver the first Joint Strike Fighter training devices to international partners as part of a $442 million contract to provide support and hardware to sustain the third low-rate initial production batch of F-35s.
The contract includes two full mission simulators, two aircraft systems maintenance trainers and one weapons loader trainer, plus hardware and software for the integrated training center at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.
Also included are two deployable mission rehearsal trainers for the F-35B short take-off and vertical landing variant (STOVL), one for the U.S. Marine Corps and one for the U.K.

In addition to avionics test stations, the sustainment contract includes shipboard certification and deployment of the JSF autonomous logistics information system to support the U.S. Navy’s F-35C variant on board aircraft carriers.
LRIP Lot 3 covers 13 aircraft: seven conventional takeoff and landing F-35As for the U.S. Air Force plus the first F-35A for the Netherlands; and seven STOVL F-35Bs for the U.S. Marine Corps and the first two F-35Bs for the U.K.