Lockheed Martin set a new production record in 2025 after delivering 191 F-35 Lightning II fighter jets, the highest number ever produced by the program in a single year. The milestone highlights the scale and maturity of the world’s largest fifth-generation fighter program, which now sustains a global fleet approaching 1,300 aircraft.
According to program officials, F-35 production is now running at a pace nearly five times faster than any other allied fighter platform. Demand for the stealth jet remained robust across Europe and beyond, with Italy expanding its fleet by 25 aircraft and Denmark inducting 16 additional jets during the year.
Several European nations also marked major milestones in their F-35 programs. Finland rolled out its first F-35 aircraft, Belgium received its first jets on home soil, and Norway completed deliveries of its planned fleet, reinforcing NATO’s growing fifth-generation airpower across the region.
In September, the F-35 Joint Program Office finalized the Lots 18 and 19 production contract, covering up to 296 aircraft valued at approximately $24 billion. The agreement represents the largest production contract in the program’s history and provides long-term production stability for both U.S. and international customers.
The record-setting year followed the F-35 fleet surpassing one million cumulative flight hours and the completion of the Technology Refresh-3 (TR-3) software upgrade. The upgrade enables more advanced combat capabilities and supports both U.S. and allied operational requirements.
Today, the F-35 serves as a core combat aircraft for 12 nations, enabling standardized training, sustainment, and operations across allied air forces. Its multirole design allows it to conduct missions ranging from air superiority and strike operations to suppression of enemy air defenses in contested environments.
