The F-35 Lightning II program reached a historic production milestone in 2025, with Lockheed Martin delivering a record 191 aircraft worldwide. The achievement marks the highest annual output since the program’s inception and underscores sustained global demand for fifth-generation stealth fighters.
Lockheed Martin currently supports a worldwide F-35 fleet of nearly 1,300 aircraft, with production operating at a rate unmatched by other allied combat aircraft programs. European partners continued to expand their fleets, as Italy inducted 25 additional jets and Denmark took delivery of 16 aircraft during the year.
Across Europe, multiple nations advanced key program milestones. Finland unveiled its first F-35, Belgium received its first aircraft domestically, and Norway completed delivery of its full fleet. These developments significantly enhance NATO’s collective airpower and interoperability across the Baltic and Arctic regions.
The program’s momentum was further reinforced in September when the F-35 Joint Program Office finalized Lots 18–19, a $24 billion production contract covering up to 296 aircraft. The deal represents the largest single production agreement in the program’s history and supports deliveries to both U.S. and partner nations.
Earlier in the year, the F-35 fleet surpassed one million flight hours and completed its most advanced software upgrade to date, known as Technology Refresh-3. The update enhances sensor fusion, computing power, and mission flexibility for operational forces worldwide.
Operationally, the F-35 has become a central asset for air forces across North America, Europe, and the Indo-Pacific. Israel has employed its F-35I fleet in real-world operations since 2017, while Japan, South Korea, and Australia continue to expand their fleets to support regional security and multinational exercises.
