Pentagon, Lockheed finalize deal for 296 F-35 fighters 

Lockheed Martin and the US Department of Defense have finalized a contract for 296 F-35 Lightning II fighters, one of the largest single procurement agreements in the history of the program. The deal, announced by the F-35 Joint Program Office on September 29, 2025, is valued at about $24.3 billion and covers aircraft for US military services, allied nations, and partner countries that purchase military hardware through the US government. 

Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2026 from Lockheed’s production line in Fort Worth, Texas. The company said the price per jet in this order has risen more slowly than the rate of inflation, which it cited as evidence of more efficient manufacturing. 

The 296 jets are split into what the Pentagon calls production Lots 18 and 19, internal groupings that organize contracts by year and quantity. The arrangement is intended to ensure steady work for Lockheed’s supply chain and provides a clear delivery schedule for US and allied operators. 

Expanding the global fleet 

The new order will significantly expand a worldwide fleet that already numbers more than 1,230 aircraft. According to Lockheed, the F-35 has now surpassed 1 million flight hours across US and allied services.  | The United States remains the largest F-35 customer, with plans to acquire more than 1,700 F-35A conventional takeoff and landing variants for the Air Force. The F-35 also comes in two other versions: the short takeoff and vertical landing F-35B used by the Marine Corps, and the carrier-capable F-35C flown by the Navy. Allied operators include NATO members along with countries such as Japan, South Korea, and Australia. 

Program history 

The F-35 program began in the early 2000s as the Joint Strike Fighter, designed to provide a stealthy multirole aircraft adaptable to multiple branches of the military. The jet first flew in 2006. The Marine Corps declared the F-35B ready for operations in 2015, followed by the Air Force with the F-35A in 2016, and later the Navy with the F-35C. 

Lockheed has gradually increased output through successive contracts. Early production runs involved small numbers of aircraft while testing and upgrades advanced. Later orders grew in size as the fighter matured. In 2019, the Pentagon placed an order for 478 aircraft across three lots, then the largest single F-35 deal on record. 

While the program has drawn scrutiny for rising costs and delays in rolling out the Block 4 upgrade package, the F-35 has become the most widely produced fifth-generation fighter in the world. More than 3,100 aircraft are planned over the program’s life, ensuring a central role in US and allied defense for decades to come. 

The nearly 300 F-35 fighters now on order will enter production soon. Lockheed said it will continue to expand its supplier network and focus on lowering long-term maintenance costs while improving reliability and readiness rates. 

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