Community Corner
Maryland to See Portion of $8 Billion Defense Department Spending Spree
New contracts obligated funds prior to year end.
On Dec. 28, 2012, the Department of Defense (DOD) announced $8 billion weapons technology contracts, reported a number of outlets, including NextGov.
The contracts were issued as concerns were raised over a $50 billion automatic cut in spending under the sequestration budget rule.
Lockheed Martin was awarded the vast majority of the funds in two contracts:
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- $4.9 billion for the F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft
- $1.9 billion for the 5th and 6th satellites in the Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite system.
Boeing received an $895 million contract for upgrades to the Air Force C-17 III transport aircraft.
Facilities in Maryland will see a small portion of some of the contracts as they participate in the construction of components.
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Five percent of the $753,420,000 contract Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co received as an “undefinitized modification” to the F-35 Lightning II contract will be spent in Baltimore.
According to the contact language on the DOD’s website, this contract is “to provide non-recurring sustainment and logistics support for delivered and projected air systems” and includes “site stand-up and depot activation activities and the procurement of Autonomic Logistics Information System hardware and software; training systems; support equipment and spares.”
Lockheed Martin’s $17,106,385 contract for “undefinitized modification to the previously awarded F-35 Lightning II low rate initial production lot 5 contract” will see five percent spent in Baltimore. This contract “provides for the manufacture and delivery of initial air vehicle spares in support of F-35 Lightening III program LRIP lot 5 air vehicles for the Air Force.”
Salisbury will see 0.6 percent of the $1,405,744,559 Bell-Boing Joint project contract for 17 MV-22 Tiltrotor Aircraft for the Marine Corps, four CV-22 Tiltrotor Air Force Aircraft anf finding for “long lead components required for the manufacture and delivery of 19 fiscal 2014 lot 18 MV-22 Tiltrotor aircraft for the Marine Corps and three fiscal 2014 lot 18 CV-22 Tiltrotor aircraft for the Air Force."