Northrop Grumman has secured a not-to-exceed $123.8 million fixed-price incentive contract from Naval Air Systems Command for long-lead materials, parts and components for 67 APG-85 production radars for the F-35 fighter. The work will be carried out in Linthicum Heights, Maryland, with completion expected in February 2031, supporting radar deliveries across the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps.
The award covers APG-85 Lot 7 procurement rather than complete radar sets, indicating the Pentagon is locking in supply-chain timing for the next phase of F-35 sensor production. Fiscal 2026 aircraft procurement funds from the Air Force and Navy will finance the effort, with the contract not competed.
The APG-85 is intended to replace the APG-81 on newer U.S. F-35s and is linked to the Block 4 modernisation package. The active electronically scanned array radar is designed to improve detection, tracking, synthetic aperture radar imaging and electronic-attack capability, although detailed performance data remain classified.