Lockheed may soon agree to share risks of increased costs, analysts say

Analysts say they expect Lockheed Martin and the Defense Department to work out a plan soon to continue development and flight testing for the F-35 joint strike fighter that will probably include some provision for Lockheed to share in the risk of further cost increases.

The Pentagon’s weapons acquisition czar, Defense Undersecretary Ashton Carter, said last week that he expects Lockheed to cover some of the anticipated cost increase.

Carter is considering ways to revise the F-35 development plan to compensate for delays in getting test aircraft built and into testing and to cover expected higher costs.

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