Lockheed Martin anticipates finalizing an agreement with the U.S. government by year’s end to produce the 18th and 19th batches of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, company officials revealed during an earnings call. However, delays in securing contracts for these upcoming F-35 lots, coupled with the government withholding multi-million dollar payments until the latest jets are combat-ready, are costing Lockheed hundreds of millions of dollars.
