Lockheed Martin achieved a historic milestone in 2025, delivering a record 191 F-35 Lightning II jets to allied forces worldwide, significantly surpassing its previous high of 142. This achievement underscores the program’s unprecedented production scale, now running five times faster than any other allied fighter in production.
The year’s successes extended beyond the factory floor. The global fleet, nearing 1,300 aircraft, surpassed one million total flight hours. Program teams also fielded the most advanced combat software to date with the completion of the Technology Refresh 3 (TR-3) upgrade, while simultaneously sustaining global operations.
Most critically, the F-35 continued to prove its combat mettle in real-world operations. It played a decisive role in suppressing integrated air defenses, accumulated thousands of mishap-free flight hours during demanding carrier deployments, and made history by engaging and eliminating hostile drones over NATO territory—a first for the alliance’s fifth-generation fighters.
Global confidence in the platform is growing. Italy and Denmark increased their planned fleets by 25 and 16 jets, respectively. Belgium welcomed its first in-country aircraft, Finland celebrated its inaugural jet rollout, and Norway completed deliveries of its full fleet.
This momentum was backed by major contractual agreements. The F-35 Joint Program Office and Lockheed Martin finalized the largest production contracts in program history, Lots 18-19, for up to 296 aircraft. A separate sustainment contract ensures continued support for the expanding global fleet.
“The entire F-35 enterprise delivered on its commitments with excellence in 2025,” said Chauncey McIntosh, Vice President and General Manager of the F-35 Program. “As our warfighters employ the jet to protect allied interests globally, we remain committed to pushing the latest technology into their hands.”
With 12 nations operating the aircraft, the F-35 program is fulfilling its promise of delivering unmatched capability and reinforcing global security partnerships for the decades ahead.
