Joanna Crews
Lockheed Martin has delivered two mobile mission system facilities built to support operations and maintenance of the Royal Australian Air Force’s F-35 aircraft.
Christopher Pyne, Australian minister for defense industry, said in a statement published Monday the country’s defense force will use the mobile mission system facilities to operate and maintain F-35s while deployed away from the Williamtown and Tindal bases.
Varley Group built the two facilities under the three-year Deployable Duty Facility/Deployable ICT Facility Mission System contract, Lockheed Martin Australia said Monday.
The first facility will feature information and communication technology systems while the other facility will support mission planning and duty personnel activities.
RAAF will receive a total of 29 such facilities, with the first two slated to arrive at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona ahead of the scheduled F-35A delivery to Australia in December.
The Australian government intends to buy 72 F-35As to succeed the country’s fleet of aging F/A-18A/B Hornet jets manufactured by Boeing.
