Lockheed Martin delivers record number of F-35s in 2025, surpasses 2021 total

Lockheed Martin said it delivered 191 F-35 Lightning II aircraft in 2025, marking the company's largest delivery year so far. (Lockheed Martin Aeronautics)

Lockheed Martin announced on 8 January 2026 that it had delivered 191 F-35 Lightning II aircraft in 2025, surpassing the company's previous delivery record of 142 in 2021.

Lockheed Martin said the type now has nearly 1,300 aircraft in service across 12 countries.

“International demand for the F-35 remains strong. Last [quarter], Denmark added 16 additional aircraft to its programme of record and Belgium announced its intent to procure 11 additional F-35s. The steady demand from our international allies for the F-35 … gives us confidence in sustained long-term production,” Evan Scott, Lockheed Martin's chief financial officer (CFO), said during a third quarter (Q3) 2025 earnings call.

Moreover, Italy added 25 aircraft to its fleet, Finland debuted its first F-35A, and Norway completed its planned fleet in 2025.

Lockheed Martin and the Pentagon's F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) in September 2025 finalised a USD24 billion agreement for Lots 18–19, for up to 296 F-35s, with deliveries to commence in 2026.

The JPO and Lockheed Martin also agreed to an Air Vehicle Sustainment Contract award in 2025.

Also in 2025, the programme reached over one million flight hours and completed its Technology Refresh 3 (TR-3) configuration, an avionics upgrade enabling next-generation Block 4 capabilities in the F-35.

The company said in June 2025 that one combat capability, which it did not specify at the time, remained to be validated before testing could be completed.