The United States is producing a record number of fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter jets in 2025, underscoring the industrial and operational maturity of the program. This information was announced by Lockheed Martin.
Over the past year, customers received 191 fighter aircraft, surpassing the previous record of 142 units delivered. According to the company, annual production of the F-35 is currently five times greater than that of any other allied fighter jet, reflecting the scale of the program.
The global fleet of F-35 Lightning IIs now numbers approximately 1,300 aircraft in service and continues to grow. In March 2025, the aircraft surpassed the 1 million cumulative flight hour milestone, an important milestone for a fifth-generation fighter jet that is still in its international expansion phase.
In addition to industrial advances, the F-35 was also used in real combat operations in 2025. Among the highlighted events was its participation in the suppression of Iran’s air defenses during the so-called Operation Midnight Hammer. The period also saw nearly 5,000 accident-free flight hours during United States Marine Corps F-35B deployments.
Another event mentioned was the interception of a Russian drone over Poland, which marked the first use of F-35s against a threat in the airspace of a NATO allied country.
International demand for this fighter jet will continue to increase in 2025. Italy and Denmark announced the expansion of their programs by adding 25 and 16 aircraft respectively. In September, the Joint F-35 Program Office (JPO) and Lockheed Martin finalized the final agreement for lots 18 and 19, which includes production of up to 296 aircraft in a $24 billion contract—the largest in the program’s history.
As part of the global expansion, Finland’s first fifth-generation multirole fighter jet, the F-35A, carried out its maiden flight on December 8, 2025, confirming the entry of a new operator into the system.
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Sources and pictures: Lockheed Martin. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the редакси team.
