Lockheed Martin and the F-35 Joint Program Office have finalized a production agreement for up to 296 F-35 Lightning II fighter jets under production lots 18 and 19. Deliveries for the new order are scheduled to begin in 2026, with aircraft slated for the US military, partner nations, and foreign military sales customers.
The additional lots will significantly expand the global F-35 fleet, which is already in service with more than a dozen countries, including Germany, Denmark, and Poland. The expansion underscores the aircraft’s role as the most widely adopted fifth-generation stealth fighter in the world.
The F-35 program offers three distinct variants, each designed to address specific mission requirements. The F-35A is the conventional takeoff and landing version, most widely operated by the US Air Force and allied forces. The F-35B, capable of short takeoffs and vertical landings, is utilized by the US Marine Corps, Italy, and the UK for operations from ships and shorter runways. The F-35C, designed for aircraft carriers with catapult-assisted launches and arrested recoveries, serves exclusively with the US Navy as its first carrier-based stealth aircraft.
Powered by a Pratt & Whitney F135 engine generating 43,000 pounds of thrust, the aircraft combines speed, stealth, and versatility. With a top speed of Mach 1.6, a range of over 1,350 miles, and the capacity to carry up to 18,000 pounds of weapons, the F-35 is designed to handle diverse combat scenarios. Its combination of stealth capabilities, sensor fusion, and multirole design ensures its place at the core of allied air power for decades to come.
