Lockheed Martin has been awarded an additional $5 billion in a multiyear contract for F-22 Raptor fighter aircraft. This additional funding brings the total contract value up to $7.3 billion and enables Lockheed Martin to start full rate production of three lots (7, 8 and 9) for a total of 60 new F-22s, extending production through 2011. $2.3 billion had been previously provided by the U.S. government to buy long lead- time parts and maintain continuous manufacturing flow.

Production rate will be 20 aircraft per year, with deliveries starting in 2008 and ending in 2011.

This brings the number of Raptors on order to 183. To date, 105 Raptors have completed final assembly at the Lockheed Martin facility in Marietta, Ga. So far, 99 Raptors have been delivered to the Air Force.