FORT WORTH, Texas, January 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — In a record year for the F-35 Lightning II program, Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) delivered 191 F-35s in 2025, surpassing the previous delivery record of 142 aircraft.
Annual production of the F-35 is now advancing at a rate five times faster than that of any other allied fighter currently in production, underscoring the scale and maturity of the program.
The milestone comes on the heels of the program reaching one million flight hours earlier this year. In 2025, the program team also delivered the most advanced software to date with the completion of the TR-3, while maintaining the global fleet of nearly 1,300 aircraft and growing.
Most importantly, the F-35 continued to demonstrate its performance in real-world combat operations, including:
- Playing a key role in the suppression Iran air defenses during Operation Midnight Hammer;
- Recording nearly 5,000 hours of trouble-free flight during a US Marine Corps F-35B deployment;
- Elimination of Russian drones Polandmarking the first time NATO F-35s have faced threats in allied airspace.
Growing global demand
Customers showed continued confidence in the F-35 as they expanded their fleet size, with Italy and Denmark increasing their record programs by adding 25 and 16 aircraft to their fleets, respectively. And throughout the program, international clients achieved important program milestones:
- Finland celebrated the launch of its first F-35.
- Belgium welcomed its first aircraft in the country.
- Norway completed deliveries of its F-35 fleet.
In September, the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) and Lockheed Martin reached a final agreement on lots 18-19 for the production and delivery of up to 296 F-35s for $24 billionmarking the completion of the largest production contracts in the show’s history. JPO and Lockheed Martin also agreed to the award of an air vehicle maintenance contract this year, which supports annualized maintenance activities across the F-35 enterprise to 2025 and beyond.
“I am immensely proud of the F-35 enterprise for meeting our production commitments, performing with excellence and growing our global partnerships into 2025,” he said. Chauncey McIntoshVice President and General Manager of the F-35 Lightning II Program. “As our warfighters continue to employ the F-35 to protect the interests of the United States and our allies around the world, we are committed to continuing to put the latest technology in the hands of the warfighter to defeat any threat.”
About the F-35
With 12 countries operating the F-35 across the global fleet and nearly 1,300 aircraft in service, the F-35 is delivering on its promise of unmatched reliability and lethality. Lockheed Martin is positioned to keep the fleet at the forefront of technology and support our allies as they expand their capabilities around the world to ensure the F-35 remains an indispensable contributor to global security for decades to come.
Learn more at F35.com.
SOURCE Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
For more information: Media Contact: Allie Murray, allie.e.murray@lmco.com; 301-312-4307