Washington, DC. October 23 – Lockheed Martin and the Pentagon have reached an initial production and sustainment agreement for at least 850 F-35 Lightning II fighter jets over the next 10 years. This deal with the Department of Defense aims to deliver a steady supply of the world’s most advanced stealth aircraft to U.S. forces and international partners.
Lockheed will maintain annual production at 156 F-35 jets for domestic and foreign orders, including initial spares and modification kits. The company will self-fund at least $7 billion in initiatives supporting the program through production upgrades, supply chain improvements, and workforce development. The agreement serves as a prearranged long-term contract, not a firm order, pending multi-year authority.
The F-35 uses stealth technology to evade enemy detection and accounts for nearly 40 percent of Lockheed Martin’s aeronautics quarterly revenue. If Congress grants multi-year procurement authority in the coming months, the F-35 Joint Program Office and Lockheed will finalize pricing, schedules, and terms. The framework covers production lots 21 through 30 and requires legislative approval and funding.
This initial deal emphasizes the strategic value of F-35 fighter jets for modern air superiority, stabilizing the defense industrial base and enhancing long-term fleet readiness for the United States and its allies.