Lockheed Martin, which makes the F-35 Lightning II fighter, was named “preferred tender” on JP 9102 in April 2023 – all but guaranteeing the deal – before it was abruptly dropped, along with scores of smaller firms, in November 2024.
Boeing shares slumped as much as 2.5 per cent in response to the news, with Bloomberg reporting that “people familiar with the matter” say the order is in response to Trump’s imposition of tariffs of up to 145 per cent on Chinese goods.
The super-pressure balloon lifted off from Wānaka Airport and will now spend 100 days or more flying around the Southern Hemisphere’s mid-latitudes, where it will measure neutral wind in the upper atmosphere.
Lockheed Martin, which makes the F-35 Lightning II fighter, was named “preferred tender” on JP 9102 in April 2023 – all but guaranteeing the deal – before it was abruptly dropped, along with scores of smaller firms, in November 2024.