The growing world of F-35s

Lockheed Martin meets 2018 F-35 Production Targets

Lockheed Martin delivered its 91st F-35 aircraft in 2018, meeting the joint government and industry delivery target for the year and “demonstrating the F-35 enterprise’s ability to ramp to full rate production.” The 91 deliveries in 2018 represent nearly a 40 percent increase from 2017 and about a 100 percent production increase compared to 2016.

In 2019, Lockheed Martin is set to deliver more than 130 F-35s, representing yet another 40 percent increase in production. The 91st aircraft is a US Marine Corps F-35B, delivered to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina. In 2018, deliveries included 54 F-35s for the United States, 21 for international partner nations and 16 for Foreign Military Sales customers. By end 2018, more than 355 F-35s had been delivered and are now operating from 16 bases worldwide. More than 730 pilots and over 6,700 technicians were trained and the F-35 fleet has surpassed more than 175,000 cumulative flight hours. Ten nations are flying the F-35, seven countries have F-35s operating from a base on their home soil, four services have declared Initial Operating Capability, and two services have confirmed that their F-35s have been employed in combat operations.