Pentagon funds 198 more F-35 fighter jets with fresh contract

Key Points
  • Lockheed Martin received a $1.14 billion contract modification to procure long‑lead materials for 198 F‑35 aircraft under Lots 20 and 21 for U.S. services, partners, and Foreign Military Sales customers.
  • Work will be performed across U.S. and international facilities and is scheduled for completion in December 2030.

Lockheed Martin has received a $1.14 billion contract modification from the Department of the Navy to fund long lead components for future production of F-35 fighter jets under Lots 20 and 21, the Pentagon announced.

According to a release, the modification (P00005) to contract N0001925C0070 covers procurement of parts, materials, and components in support of 65 Lot 20 aircraft and 133 Lot 21 aircraft. The platforms are being built for the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, as well as F-35 cooperative program partners and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers.

The aircraft, manufactured by Lockheed Martin at its Fort Worth facility, is currently the cornerstone of fifth-generation fighter fleets for the U.S. military and several allied nations.

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The Pentagon said the new work will be carried out primarily in Fort Worth, Texas (59%), with additional contributions from El Segundo, California (14%); Warton, United Kingdom (9%); Cameri, Italy (4%); Orlando, Florida (4%); Nashua, New Hampshire (3%); Baltimore, Maryland (3%); San Diego, California (2%); and other overseas sites (2%). Work is scheduled to be completed by December 2030.

Funding for the award includes:

  • $188 million in FY2026 Air Force procurement funds
  • $115.79 million in FY2026 Navy procurement funds
  • $16.23 million in FY2025 Air Force procurement funds
  • $38.89 million in FY2025 Navy procurement funds
  • $556.6 million from FMS customers
  • $225.7 million from F-35 cooperative program partners

The Department of War confirmed that all funds will be obligated at the time of award, and none will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.

The F-35 program continues to be the largest and most expensive weapons program in Pentagon history, with global demand growing as allied nations expand their tactical airpower capabilities. The aircraft’s stealth features, sensor fusion, and networked combat systems are central to current U.S. and allied air dominance strategies.

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