Lockheed Martin has signed a new $12.5 billion contract with the U.S. Department of Defense to produce and deliver 148 F-35 fighters.
The agreement consolidates the purchase of Lot 18 and expands production to Lot 19, covering aircraft intended for the U.S. armed forces, partner countries, and international Foreign Military Sales clients.
According to the Pentagon, the distribution includes 40 F-35A jets for the U.S. Air Force, 20 aircraft for the Marine Corps (B and C models), and 9 F-35Cs for the Navy. Allies will receive 15 units, while 64 fighters are allocated to international clients. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2026, with full completion expected by August 2028.
Production will be centered in Fort Worth, Texas, which accounts for more than half of the work, with participation from factories in the U.S., United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan. The contract is managed under fixed-price terms and includes funding from the 2023–2025 fiscal budgets. The Naval Air Systems Command, based in Patuxent River, Maryland, will oversee the execution of the agreement.
Source: UK Defence Journal | Photo: X @usairforce | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
