Lockheed Martin and the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) announced the completion of the contract for the production of Lots 18 and 19 of the F-35, totaling up to 296 aircraft, with deliveries starting in 2026.
The jets will be delivered to the U.S. armed forces, international partners, and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. The contract reinforces confidence in the aircraft as one of the most advanced and cost-effective in production today.
Lot 18, initially planned for 145 aircraft, was expanded to 148 jets, while Lot 19 includes another 148 aircraft. Variants include the F-35A, F-35B, and F-35C, distributed among the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, international partners, and FMS customers. Production of Lot 19 is expected to be completed by August 2028, and engine contracts are still to be finalized.
The combined total value of the two lots is approximately $24.3 billion, with an average airframe cost of around $82 million, excluding engines. Lockheed Martin highlights that the per-aircraft price increase was below inflation, despite global factors such as rising raw material costs and supply chain disruptions.
Additionally, the Pentagon has signed supplementary contracts for updating F-35 parts and systems, including the NextGen DAS, which modernizes aircraft optical sensors starting from Lot 15.
Source: The Aviationist | Photo: X @thef35 | This content was created with AI assistance and reviewed by the editorial team
We’ve reached an agreement with the U.S. government for 296 F-35s. Check out the agreement fast facts below: ⬇️
🌎 Includes F-35s for U.S. services and key allies
🛡️ Ensures air dominance for decades to come pic.twitter.com/pZ1qXksIJz— F-35 Lightning II (@thef35) September 29, 2025
