LMT - Lockheed Pentagon near $30B deal for F-35 fighter jets - Reuters

The U.S. Department of Defense is nearing a "handshake agreement" with Lockheed Martin ( NYSE: LMT ) for ~375 F-35 fighter jets over three years, Reuters reported on Monday.

Talks had bogged down in recent weeks over data rights, but a Monday meeting in Washington could lead to a deal on both a price range and quantity, according to the report, which also said if an agreement is reached, finalized pricing would not be locked in for several weeks if not months, but an ultimate total value is ~$30B.

The decision comes amid expectations of a jump in price for the jet due to lower quantities and inflation, Reuters said.

Demand for Lockheed Martin's ( LMT ) products is independent of consumer confidence and consumer behavior, Bela Lakos writes in a bullish analysis posted recently on Seeking Alpha .

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