F-35 Breaks Delivery Record, Continues Combat Success in 2025
Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) reported a record F-35 production year in 2025, delivering 191 aircraft versus the prior record of 142.
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Rhea-AI Summary
Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) reported a record F-35 production year in 2025, delivering 191 aircraft versus the prior record of 142. Annual production now runs at a pace the company says is five times faster than other allied fighters, and the program surpassed one million flight hours. The program completed TR-3 software and sustained a global fleet of about 1,300 aircraft. International orders grew with Italy adding 25 jets and Denmark 16. In September, the F-35 Joint Program Office and Lockheed Martin finalized Lots 18-19 for up to 296 F-35s for $24 billion and agreed an Air Vehicle Sustainment Contract for 2025 and beyond.
The release highlights operational use in 2025, including deployment flight hours and reported combat engagements, and emphasizes continued production, sustainment, and global demand.
Positive
- Deliveries: 191 F-35s delivered in 2025 (record)
- Program scale: Fleet of ~1,300 aircraft worldwide
- Flight hours: Program exceeded 1,000,000 flight hours
- Contracting: Lots 18-19 finalized for up to 296 jets worth $24 billion
- Sustainment: Agreed an Air Vehicle Sustainment Contract for 2025+
Negative
- None.
Details
News Market Reaction – LMT
On Jan 8, the first trading day after this news, LMT closed 4.34% above the previous close.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus for the Jan 8 session.
Key Figures
- F-35s delivered 2025
- 191 aircraft
- Annual F-35 deliveries in 2025
- Prior delivery record
- 142 jets
- Previous annual F-35 delivery record
- Flight hours
- 1,000,000 flight hours
- Program flight hours reached earlier in 2025
- Mishap-free hours
- 5,000 flight hours
- U.S. Marine Corps F-35B deployment
- Italy fleet expansion
- 25 aircraft
- Additional F-35s added to Italy’s program of record
- Denmark fleet expansion
- 16 aircraft
- Additional F-35s added to Denmark’s program of record
- Lots 18-19 contract
- $24 billion for up to 296 F-35s
- Production and delivery agreement with F-35 Joint Program Office
- Annual production pace
- 5x faster
- F-35 output vs any other allied fighter in production
Historical Context
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Announced date and speakers for Q4 and full-year 2025 earnings call.
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Won SDA deal for 18 Tranche 3 Tracking Layer satellites worth more than $1B.
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Skunk Works and XTEND showcased multi-UAS autonomy and command-and-control integration.
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Debut of Finland’s first F-35A and outline of 64-aircraft program of record.
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Completed initial F-16 Block 70 fleets for Bulgaria and Slovakia under FMS.
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
Annual F-35 production is now running at a pace five times faster than any other allied fighter currently in production, underscoring the program's scale and maturity.
The milestone comes on the heels of the program reaching one million flight hours earlier in the year. In 2025, the program team also delivered the most advanced software to date with the completion of TR-3, as they sustained the global fleet of almost 1,300 aircraft and growing.
Most importantly, the F-35 continued to prove its performance in real-world combat operations, including:
- Playing a key role in suppressing
Iran's air defenses during Operation Midnight Hammer; - Recording nearly 5,000 mishap-free flight hours during a
U.S. Marine Corps F-35B deployment; - Eliminating Russian drones over
Poland , marking the first time NATO F-35s have engaged threats in allied airspace.
Growing global demand
Customers displayed continued confidence in the F-35 as they expanded their fleet size, with
Finland celebrated the rollout of its first F-35.Belgium welcomed its first in-country aircraft.Norway completed deliveries of its F-35 fleet.
In September, the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) and Lockheed Martin reached final agreement of Lots 18-19 for the production and delivery of up to 296 F-35s for
"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. "As our warfighters continue to employ the F-35 to protect the interests of America and our allies around the world, we're committed to continuing to push the latest technology into the hands of the warfighter to defeat any threat."
About the F-35
With 12 nations operating the F-35 across the global fleet, and almost 1,300 aircraft in service, the F-35 is delivering on its promise of unmatched reliability and lethality. Lockheed Martin is positioned to keep the fleet at the cutting edge of technology and support our allies as they expand their capabilities worldwide to ensure the F-35 remains an indispensable contributor to global security for decades to come.
Learn more at F35.com.
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SOURCE Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
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