Lockheed Martin will construct as much as 296 F-35s as a part of Tons 18 and 19, with first deliveries in 2026.
Lockheed Martin and the F-35 Joint Program Workplace (JPO) introduced they reached a ultimate settlement for the Manufacturing Tons 18 and 19, which is able to see the corporate constructing as much as 296 F-35s. As a part of the contract, F-35s might be produced for the U.S. providers, worldwide companions and Overseas Navy Gross sales (FMS) clients, with first deliveries in 2026.
“The F-35 Lot 18-19 contract represents continued confidence in essentially the most reasonably priced and succesful fighter plane in manufacturing at this time,” stated Chauncey McIntosh, Vice President and Normal Supervisor of the F-35 Lightning II program at Lockheed Martin. “We’re proud to assist our clients and additional solidify the F-35’s position in enabling peace by way of power.”
We’ve reached an settlement with the U.S. authorities for 296 F-35s. Take a look at the settlement quick information beneath: ⬇️
🌎 Contains F-35s for U.S. providers and key allies🛡️ Ensures air dominance for many years to return pic.twitter.com/pZ1qXksIJz
— F-35 Lightning II (@thef35) September 29, 2025
Tons 18 and 19
Lockheed Martin was awarded in December 2024 a primary undefinitized contract for Lot 18, price $11.8 billion, to provide a complete of 145 F-35s by June 2027. This contract was adopted in August 2025 by a $2.9 billion contract to Pratt & Whitney for 141 F135 engines for use on Lot 18 plane.
In response to the Lot 18 contract discover, the 145 jets embody 48 F-35A plane for the Air Drive, 16 F-35B plane and 5 F-35C plane for the Marine Corps, 14 F-35C plane for the Navy, 15 F-35A plane and one F-35B plane for F-35 non-U.S. DoD program companions, and 39 F-35A plane and 7 F-35B plane for Overseas Navy Gross sales (FMS) clients.
The brand new contract modification awarded on Sept. 29, 2025, price $12.5 billion, elevated Lot 18 to 148 plane and added 148 F-35s as a part of Lot 19. The latter embody 40 F-35A plane for the Air Drive, 12 F-35B and eight F-35C plane for the Marine Corps, 9 F-35C plane for the Navy, 13 F-35A and two F-35B plane for F-35 cooperative program companions, and 52 F-35A and 12 F-35B plane for Overseas Navy Gross sales (FMS) clients.
The contract discover additional provides that the manufacturing of Lot 19 is anticipated to be accomplished in August 2028. A contract for the engines wanted by Lot 19 has not but been awarded.
The Value
Summing up the values of the December 2024 and September 2025 contracts, the full worth of the mixed Tons 18 and 19 is roughly $24.3 billion. Contemplating the full of 296 plane, the typical worth of an airframe can be simply shy of $82.1 million, to which the worth of the engine nonetheless must be added. For Lot 18, this may imply an extra $20.5 million for every jet.
The costs of every variant as a part of the 2 new tons haven’t been disclosed but. Beforehand, for Manufacturing Tons 15 by way of 17, the JPO stated the typical flyaway value of an F-35A was $82.5 million, $109 million for an F-35B, and $102.1 million per F-35C.
Within the press launch, Lockheed Martin stated “the rise in worth per jet in Lot 18-19 from earlier years was lower than the speed of inflation.” Breaking Protection beforehand reported that protection officers stated the “important worth enhance” of Lot 18 is “primarily attributed to inflation, important international worth will increase for uncooked supplies, and provide chain disruptions.”
The report surfaced as negotiations for the contract have been nonetheless ongoing. The publication quoted a press release from the JPO, which anticipated the wording discovered within the newest press launch: “The worldwide economic system has skilled important inflationary pressures for the reason that Lot 15-17 contract was signed. However, the F-35 Joint Program Workplace and Lockheed Martin arrived at a price per air automobile beneath the related inflation indices, underscoring the F-35 Enterprise’s dedication to regulate prices. Adjusted for inflation, the fee per air automobile is in keeping with the price of these in Lot 15-17.”
Further F-35 Contracts
Along with the Tons 18 and 19 contract, the Pentagon awarded extra contracts for the F-35 Lightning II on Sept. 29, 2025. Amongst these is a $137.2 contract “to offer diminishing manufacturing sources and engineering change proposals implementation and integration in assist of updating configurations for F-35 manufacturing plane Lot 17.”
One other contract, price $101,1 million, has been awarded for the “superior procurement of components vulnerable to anticipated diminishing manufacturing sources and materials shortages occasions in assist of F-35 manufacturing and sustainment.”
Lastly, a $11,6 million contract was awarded for the “redesign of the Sensor Electronics circuit card meeting in assist of resolving the NextGen Electro Optical Distributed Aperture System diminishing manufacturing sources and materials shortages redesign.” This refers back to the upgraded DAS system, which was deliberate to exchange the unique system since 2023 for Lot 15 plane onwards.
