WASHINGTON / ANKARA — The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded Vertex Aerospace LLC a logistics support contract for the C-12 aircraft fleet with a ceiling value of $500 million, expanding a global operational network that includes Ankara, Türkiye, along with military locations across the United States and several partner nations.
The contract, which is scheduled to run through June 2031, covers logistics support for C-12 aircraft used by U.S. military organizations. Services include the transportation of personnel and cargo, medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) missions, and flight test support.
According to the Pentagon, contract operations will be carried out across seven U.S. states and in numerous partner countries participating in the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. Alongside Türkiye, the international network includes Argentina, Botswana, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Ghana, Honduras, Hungary, Japan, Kenya, Morocco, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and Norway.
The support services will primarily benefit the U.S. Air Force Materiel Command, the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), and the Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). Operations will focus on time-sensitive transportation of personnel, cargo, and medical evacuation missions, as well as providing specialized flight test support at military bases and operational centers in participating countries, including Türkiye.
The contract was awarded following a competitive bidding process involving three companies. Initial funding has been allocated from Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations and Foreign Military Sales funds. Contract management is being handled by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma.
Separately, the Pentagon also announced a $74.2 million contract modification for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics under the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program. The additional funding will support the integration of United Kingdom- and Italy-specific weapon systems into the F-35A and F-35B variants, enhance Block 4 capabilities, and develop a common tactical data recording system for all F-35 variants.
The F-35-related work is expected to be completed by December 2032.