The U.S. Department of Defense has announced it is awarding Lockheed Martin $698 million for long-lead procurement of F-35 parts, materials and components.

The items to be procured will support the manufacture of 57 F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters in low-rate production lot IX.

The Pentagon said that production lot includes 26 F-35A conventional takeoff and landing aircraft variants for the U.S. Air Force; six F-35B short takeoff vertical landing aircraft for the U.S. Marine Corps; two F-35C carrier variant aircraft for the Navy; six F-35A CTOL aircraft for the government of Norway; one F-35A CTOL for Italy; seven F-35A CTOL aircraft for Israel; two CTOL aircraft for Japan; six F-35B STOVL for Britain; and one F-35B STOVL aircraft for Italy.

"Fiscal 2014 aircraft procurement, Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy funds and international partner funds in the amount of $698,032,384 are being obligated on this award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year," the Pentagon said.