by According to officials, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., based in Fort Worth, is expected to deploy 170 to 190 F-35s by 2025.
The military has received roughly 97 fighter jets to date.
The F-47 aircraft, which Boeing will manufacture for the military’s Next Generation Air Dominance Program, is said to be a bridge to the stealth aircraft, which is being built at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth.
During an earnings call for the second quarterJim Taiclet, CEO of Lockheed Martin Corp., stated on July 22 that despite the Department of Defense reducing its purchase to 47 aircraft in the projected 2026 budget, new orders for F-35s are anticipated. But legislative committees might increase the number of aircraft, he added.
In its budget, the Senate Armed Services Committee is contemplating 57 aircraft, while the House Appropriations Committee is proposing 69.
The Defense Department and Lockheed are completing contracts for additional F-35s, according to Evan Scott, chief financial officer at Lockheed. Although 150 jets would be included in one contract, it is not anticipated to be finished until the third quarter of 2025.
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Lockheed Martin reported $1.8 billion in losses in the second quarter of 2025, which coincided with the increase in F-35 orders. A $950 million charge on a classified Skunk Works program is one of those losses. Skunk Works is located in Fort Worth and is a division of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics.
Additionally, the IRS has assessed the corporation an additional $4.6 billion in income tax due to a change in accounting methods. As it challenges the claim, the corporation is paying interest totaling $100 million.
According to Scott, the delayed F-35 Lots 18 and 19 awards as well as tariff effects contributed to Lockheed Martin’s $150 million operating cash flow in the second quarter of 2025.
Delivery of the F-35 was halted for a year due to problems with the Technology Refresh 3 update. Since 2024, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics has supplied 207 aircraft, according to Taiclet, with the problem fixed.
We continued our development and fielding of enhanced block four capabilities by releasing updated software to the fleet earlier this month, Taiclet stated. Along with new weapons and electronic warfare features, this update enhances the pilot interface.
“Lockheed Martin continues to see strong international demand for the F-35,” he said, adding that Belgium expects to add 11 aircraft to its fleet while the United Kingdom revealed intentions to purchase 12 F-35A fighters. According to him, Danish government authorities are also considering purchasing more jets.
According to Taiclet, the company’s crucial role in American and allied national security has been reinforced by the testing of the planes’ performance during recent U.S. military operations in the Middle East.
According to him, the operation was directed by pilots operating the F-35 Lightning II and the F-22 Raptor stealth fighters, which gave the bombers the air superiority and defensive suppression they needed to reach Iran’s hardened nuclear sites.
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