American defense contractor achieves unprecedented output, outpacing all competing fighter programs as global demand surges for stealth aircraft.
Lockheed Martin delivered 191 F-35 fighter jets in 2025, marking the most productive year in the program’s history and surpassing the combined output of all other Allied fighter aircraft currently in production, the company announced.
The delivery total represents a production rate five times higher than any other Allied fighter program, according to Lockheed Martin. The milestone comes as the global F-35 fleet reached 1 million flight hours and expanded to nearly 1,300 aircraft operating across 12 nations.
The F-35 Joint Program Office finalized contracts worth $24 billion for 296 additional aircraft last year, representing the largest single order since the program began. As of the new year, Lockheed Martin’s production backlog stands at 416 aircraft.
“I’m immensely proud of the F-35 enterprise for delivering on our production commitments, performing with excellence and growing our global partnerships in 2025,” said Chauncey McIntosh, vice president and general manager of the F-35 Lightning II Program.
The year brought several operational milestones for the stealth fighter. Polish pilots achieved the first Allied combat victory using F-35s when they intercepted Russian drones. Finland received its first F-35 delivery, while Belgium welcomed its first aircraft following pilot training completion in the United States. Norway took delivery of its final aircraft, completing its total order.
International demand continued to grow throughout the year. Italy increased its order by 25 aircraft, and Denmark added 16 jets to its fleet. Canada is considering purchasing up to 88 additional F-35s beyond its existing commitment of 16 aircraft, though the expansion remains under review.
The F-35 program produces three variants: the F-35A conventional takeoff and landing model, the F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing variant, and the F-35C carrier-capable version for naval operations. The global fleet includes aircraft operated by the United States and Allied nations, including the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Australia, Denmark, Norway, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Belgium, Poland, and Finland.
Lockheed Martin currently has orders for a minimum of nearly 3,000 F-35 fighter jets across all variants. The company manufactures the aircraft at its mile-long facility in Fort Worth, Texas, which previously produced tens of thousands of warplanes during World War II.
The F-35 represents the most expensive defense development project in U.S. military history. Despite initial performance concerns, the aircraft has demonstrated operational effectiveness in combat deployments, including Israeli Air Force strikes against Iranian facilities.
Production of competing fighter aircraft from other manufacturers, including the F-15EX Eagle II, Eurofighter Typhoon, and Dassault Rafale, posted significantly lower delivery numbers for the year. Russian and Chinese stealth fighter programs, including the Su-57 and J-20, have produced far fewer aircraft than the F-35 program.
The current F-35 fleet exceeds the combined total of all other fifth-generation stealth fighters ever manufactured worldwide, including the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, Russia’s Sukhoi Su-57, China’s Chengdu J-20, and Shenyang J-35.
Key Takeaways
- Lockheed Martin delivered 191 F-35 fighter jets in 2025, a record year that exceeded the combined output of all other Allied fighter programs currently in production.
- The F-35 Joint Program Office secured $24 billion in contracts for 296 additional aircraft, the largest order in program history, with a production backlog of 416 jets.
- The global F-35 fleet reached nearly 1,300 aircraft across 12 nations and achieved 1 million flight hours, with Poland recording the first Allied combat victory using the stealth fighter.
- International orders expanded as Italy added 25 aircraft and Denmark ordered 16 jets, while Canada considers purchasing up to 88 additional F-35s.
