Lockheed Martin’s promotion of Dan Crowley on Monday to chief operating officer of the company’s aeronautics business unit, after five years at the helm of the company’s F-35 program, brings with it changes to another Air Force fighter project. Larry Lawson, after six years heading the F-22 program, moves over into Crowley’s old F-35 spot, while George Shultz, the company’s deputy general manager of the F-22 since 2008, now becomes it general manager. Ralph Heath, Lockheed’s aeronautics sector head, said Lawson’s F-22 leadership allowed that program “to set new records for fighter performance, operational test, factory deliveries, and performance-based logistics.” Tom Burbage, general manager for F-35 program integration, will keep his position, in which he works with foreign partners and their industry, and will coordinate with Lawson and “all Lockheed Martin corporate resources to ensure F-35 program success,” according to the company’s release.
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.