Fort Worth-based Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. soared past its 2025 production goal for F-35 fighter jets — now assembling aircraft five times faster than any other allied fighter in production, officials said.
The company announced Jan. 7 that it had a record-breaking year, delivering 191 aircraft from its assembly plant at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth.
“That’s 191 new problems for our enemies,” Chauncey McIntosh, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics vice president and general manager for the F-35 Lightning II program, said in an online post. “Behind every jet is a dedicated team of engineers, pilots, sustainers and partners, ensuring warfighters have the capability, readiness and edge they need, wherever they operate.”
The company — which surpassed a previous record of 142 jets in one year — is now producing F-35 aircraft five times faster than any other allied fighter in production, officials said.
In July, Lockheed Martin officials said the company was on track to deliver 170 to 190 F-35 jets in 2025. At that point, about 97 aircraft were assembled at the Fort Worth plant.
The stealth fighter jet — expected to be in production for decades as technology upgrades and improvements continue — has been described as a bridge to the new F-47 aircraft that Boeing will provide for the military’s Next Generation Air Dominance Program. Team members completed its technology refresh to almost 1,300 aircraft worldwide in 2025, officials said.
Lockheed Martin sales
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co.’s production milestone follows other notable F-35 achievements in 2025, including the program reaching 1 million flight hours.
Lockheed Martin Corp. recorded $18.6 million in sales for the third quarter of 2025, a nearly 9% increase from $17.1 million noted for the same period in 2024, according to earning results posted in October.
The aeronautics division also increased its sales to $7.2 million compared to $6.4 million in the third quarter of 2024.
Officials said F-35 foreign customers “displayed continued confidence” in the program as Italy and Denmark added 25 and 16 aircraft to their respective fleets. In addition, F-35 deliveries were completed to Norway while Belgium welcomed its first in-country aircraft.
Maj. Gen. Timo Herranen, commander of the Finnish air force, gets his picture taken in front of the country’s first F-35A jet. (Eric E. Garcia | Fort Worth Report)
On Dec. 16, the first F-35 jet for Finland was debuted in a ceremony at the company’s Fort Worth facility.
Lockheed Martin Corp. CEO Jim Taiclet previously said that more orders for F-35s were expected although the Department of Defense lowered its order to 47 aircraft for the 2026 budget.
In September, Lockheed Martin and the F-35 Joint Program Office finalized a $24 billion agreement of Lots 18-19 that calls for the production and delivery of 296 F-35 jets — one of the largest production contracts in program history. Another agreement supports sustainment activities across the F-35 program beyond 2025.
Currently, a total of 12 nations use nearly 1,300 aircraft. Officials said the F-35 has proven its performance in combat operations, including suppressing Iranian air defense during Operation Midnight Hammer and eliminating Russian drones over Poland’s airspace.
McIntosh said the F-35 program excelled in 2025.
“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,” he said. “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.”
Eric E. Garcia is senior business reporter at the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at eric.garcia@fortworthreport.org.
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