Secretary of War Visits Lockheed Martin F-35 Production Facility

Rhea-AI Summary

Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) hosted Secretary of War Pete Hegseth at its Fort Worth F-35 production facility on January 12, 2026, highlighting the company's role in accelerating acquisition transformation and supporting the warfighter.

Key points: 600 employees attended the event out of 19,000 Fort Worth staff; the company reported a record 191 F-35 deliveries in 2025; annual F-35 production is running at a pace five times faster than any other allied fighter in production; and Lockheed announced a landmark framework agreement with the U.S. Department of War to accelerate production and delivery of PAC-3 MSE interceptors.

Positive

• Record delivery of 191 F-35 fighter jets in 2025
• Annual F-35 production running at a pace 5x faster than other allied fighters
• Announced framework agreement to accelerate PAC-3 MSE interceptor production

Negative

• None.

News Market Reaction

+1.28%

1 alert

+1.28% News Effect

On the day this news was published, LMT gained 1.28%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Key Figures

Current price: $551.24 52-week range: $410.11–$554.27 Fort Worth employees: 19,000 employees +5 more

8 metrics

Current price $551.24 Pre-news trading level on 2026-01-12

52-week range $410.11–$554.27 Low–high range before this news

Fort Worth employees 19,000 employees F-35 production facility workforce in Fort Worth

Employees addressed 600+ employees Number of Fort Worth employees addressed during the visit

F-35 suppliers Over 1,900 suppliers Suppliers contributing to the F-35 supply chain

F-35 production pace 5x faster Annual F-35 production pace vs other allied fighters

Record F-35 deliveries 191 fighter jets Record number of F-35 jets delivered in 2025

Market capitalization $125,630,491,404 Equity value prior to this news

Market Reality Check

Price: $593.91 Vol: Volume 2,955,873 is 1.67x...

high vol

$593.91 Last Close

Volume Volume 2,955,873 is 1.67x the 20-day average of 1,765,581, indicating elevated interest ahead of this news. high

Technical Shares at 551.24 are trading above the 200-day MA of 468.29 and sit 0.55% below the 52-week high of 554.27.

Peers on Argus

LMT was up 1.53% with strong volume while key peers mostly gained modestly: GD +...

LMT was up 1.53% with strong volume while key peers mostly gained modestly: GD +1.29%, NOC +0.91%, BA +2.36%, HWM +0.91%, and TDG -0.39%. The mixed move, plus no peers in the momentum scanner, points to a company-specific tilt.

Common Catalyst Defense contract activity continued in the sector, with GD announcing a Navy C5ISR modernization contract and upcoming earnings-related events.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jan 07 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Jan 07	F-35 program update	Positive	-4.8%	Record F-35 production, expanded orders, and sustainment milestones highlighted.
Jan 06	PAC-3 framework deal	Positive	+2.0%	Seven-year U.S. Department of War framework to boost PAC-3 MSE output.
Jan 05	Earnings call notice	Neutral	+2.9%	Announcement of Q4 and full-year 2025 earnings webcast schedule.
Dec 19	SDA space contract	Positive	+0.8%	Award for 18 Tranche 3 Tracking Layer satellites expanding SDA backlog.
Dec 18	Autonomy tech demo	Positive	-1.0%	Skunk Works–XTEND demo of multi-UAS command-and-control capabilities.

Pattern Detected

Recent LMT news often saw positive contract and program updates met with generally supportive price moves, though the record F-35 delivery update on Jan 7, 2026 coincided with a notable selloff, showing occasional divergence on strong operational headlines.

Recent Company History

Over the past month, LMT headlines have focused on F-35 production strength, PAC-3 MSE capacity expansion, space contracts, and autonomous systems. On Dec 19, 2025, it secured an SDA Tracking Layer space vehicle contract. A day earlier, Skunk Works and XTEND highlighted autonomous C2 advances. In early January 2026, LMT announced a record 191 F-35 deliveries in 2025 and a seven-year PAC-3 MSE framework agreement. Today’s visit by the Secretary of War reinforces these themes of scale, capability, and deep U.S. defense ties.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement highlights the U.S. Secretary of War’s visit to LMT’s Fort Worth F-35 facility and...

Analysis

This announcement highlights the U.S. Secretary of War’s visit to LMT’s Fort Worth F-35 facility and reinforces the program’s scale, with 19,000 local employees, over 1,900 suppliers, and a record 191 jets delivered in 2025. It also references a framework to accelerate PAC-3 MSE interceptor production. In context of recent contract wins and program milestones, investors may track how these relationships feed into future orders, backlog visibility, and upcoming earnings disclosures.

Key Terms

f-35, multi-mission fighter, supply chain, acquisition transformation

4 terms

f-35 technical

"welcomed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to the Fort Worth, Texas, F-35 Lightning II production facility today."

A stealthy, single-seat, single-engine fighter jet used by multiple countries for air combat, reconnaissance and strike missions; think of it as a high-tech, multi-purpose tool for modern air forces. It matters to investors because production, maintenance and export contracts drive revenue and long-term service income for defense contractors and suppliers, and changes in orders, government budgets or program delays can directly affect related companies’ earnings and stock prices.

multi-mission fighter technical

"The F-35 is the most advanced multi-mission fighter jet in the world as clearly shown"

A multi-mission fighter is a military aircraft designed to perform several roles—such as air-to-air combat, ground attack, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare—so one platform can handle many tasks that used to require different planes. For investors, these jets matter because they tend to attract larger, longer-term defense contracts, support and upgrade revenue, and export opportunities, making them a key driver of predictable income and program risk for aerospace and defense companies.

supply chain technical

"Over 1,900 suppliers across the United States, more than half of which are small businesses, contribute to the F-35 supply chain."

A supply chain is the series of steps involved in producing and delivering a product or service, from raw materials to the final customer. It includes all the processes, such as sourcing materials, manufacturing, and distribution, that ensure products reach consumers. For investors, understanding the supply chain helps gauge how efficiently a company can meet demand and manage costs, impacting its profitability and stability.

acquisition transformation financial

"underscored Lockheed Martin's role in accelerating acquisition transformation and delivering critical capabilities"

Acquisition transformation is the process of reshaping an acquired company and the buyer’s operations so they work together as a single, more valuable business. It covers changes to people, systems, products and strategy—think merging two kitchens into one efficient restaurant—aimed at cutting redundant costs, improving performance and unlocking new revenue. Investors watch this because its speed, cost and execution determine whether the deal creates value or becomes a long, expensive distraction.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

FORT WORTH, Texas, Jan. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) welcomed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to the Fort Worth, Texas, F-35 Lightning II production facility today. The visit was part of the secretary's Arsenal of Freedom industry tour and underscored Lockheed Martin's role in accelerating acquisition transformation and delivering critical capabilities to the warfighter.

During the tour, Hegseth toured the F-35 assembly line, met with Lockheed Martin leaders and addressed more than 600 of the 19,000 Fort Worth employees.

"I'm looking out into an incredible audience of Americans here who are committed to an incredible company that's building incredible platforms," Hegseth said. "Thank you for accepting and grasping the challenge of President Trump as well as our department. Thank you all so much for what you do, for why you're doing it. We are shoulder to shoulder with you because we can't deter the next conflict without the skills and capabilities you have."

Over 1,900 suppliers across the United States, more than half of which are small businesses, contribute to the F-35 supply chain. Propelled by the strength of American manufacturing, annual F-35 production is running at a pace five times faster than any other allied fighter currently in production, underscoring the program's scale and maturity.

"The F-35 is the most advanced multi-mission fighter jet in the world as clearly shown in many recent and successful military engagements around the world. Our U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Marine F-35 pilots, along with those of our allies, ensure air superiority when they take to the skies, and are critical contributors to President Trump's strategy of peace through strength," said Jim Taiclet, chairman, president and CEO of Lockheed Martin.

"It was an honor to host Secretary of War Hegseth during his visit to our F-35 production operation in Fort Worth, Texas, and introduce him to members of our amazing workforce who in 2025 delivered a record number of 191 fighter jets. Every one of our 19,000 employees at the Fort Worth plant, and many more at our own and our suppliers' factories around the country, are totally dedicated to building these jets faster and more efficiently. It was great to hear their dedication and excitement in speaking to Secretary Hegseth about their work during our visit."

Beyond aircraft production, the company announced a landmark framework agreement with the U.S. Department of War last week to rapidly accelerate the production and delivery of PAC-3® Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) interceptors – the first example of the Acquisition Transformation Strategy being put into action.

About the F-35
More than 1,290 F-35s are currently operational around the globe, and the fleet surpassed 1 million flight hours in 2025. The combat proven F-35 operates from 50 bases worldwide, including 11 nations operating on home soil. As adversaries advance and legacy aircraft age, the F-35 is critical to maintaining air dominance for decades to come.

About Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin is a global defense technology company driving innovation and advancing scientific discovery. Our all-domain mission solutions and 21st Century Security® vision accelerate the delivery of transformative technologies to ensure those we serve always stay ahead of ready. More information at Lockheedmartin.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/secretary-of-war-visits-lockheed-martin-f-35-production-facility-302659030.html

SOURCE Lockheed Martin Aeronautics

FAQ

What did Lockheed Martin (LMT) announce during the January 12, 2026 Fort Worth visit?

Lockheed Martin hosted Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, highlighted F-35 production metrics, and announced a framework agreement to accelerate PAC-3 MSE interceptor delivery.

How many F-35s did Lockheed Martin (LMT) deliver in 2025?

Lockheed Martin delivered a record 191 F-35 fighter jets in 2025.

What is the reported F-35 production pace mentioned by Lockheed Martin (LMT)?

The company said annual F-35 production is running at a pace five times faster than any other allied fighter currently in production.

How many employees work at Lockheed Martin's Fort Worth F-35 facility mentioned on January 12, 2026?

The Fort Worth operation employs about 19,000 people, and roughly 600 attended the Secretary's visit.

What does the Lockheed Martin (LMT) framework agreement with the U.S. Department of War cover?

The framework agreement is intended to rapidly accelerate the production and delivery of PAC-3 MSE interceptors as part of the Acquisition Transformation Strategy.