In a year that underscored both scale and operational credibility, the F-35 Lightning II program closed 2025 with a historic milestone: 191 aircraft delivered worldwide, surpassing the previous annual record of 142 jets and reaffirming the program’s position as the most prolific fifth-generation fighter effort in history.

The achievement highlights the maturity of the F-35 enterprise at a time when demand for advanced, interoperable airpower continues to rise across allied nations. With production now running at a pace five times faster than any other allied fighter program currently in manufacture, the F-35 has evolved from a developmental effort into a globally integrated combat system operating at industrial scale.

A Year of Milestones Across the Enterprise

The record-setting delivery year followed another landmark moment for the program earlier in 2025, when the global F-35 fleet surpassed one million cumulative flight hours. As the fleet continued to grow—approaching 1,300 aircraft worldwide—the program team simultaneously sustained daily operations while delivering the most advanced software configuration to date with the completion of Technology Refresh-3 (TR-3).

Together, these achievements reflect a program balancing production tempo, fleet sustainment, and capability advancement—an increasingly rare combination among modern combat aircraft programs.

Proven Performance in Real-World Operations

Beyond the numbers, 2025 further cemented the F-35’s reputation as a combat-proven platform. Throughout the year, the aircraft demonstrated its operational relevance in live missions and deployed environments.

The F-35 played a key role in suppressing Iranian air defenses during Operation Midnight Hammer, showcasing its ability to operate inside contested environments. During a U.S. Marine Corps deployment, F-35Bs accumulated nearly 5,000 mishap-free flight hours, reinforcing the platform’s reliability under expeditionary conditions.

In a historic first for the alliance, NATO F-35s eliminated Russian drones over Poland, marking the first engagement of hostile threats by F-35 aircraft in allied airspace—an event that underscored the aircraft’s growing role in collective defence and air policing missions.

Expanding Global Fleets and Allied Confidence

International confidence in the F-35 continued to build throughout the year, with several partner nations expanding or completing their national programs.

Italy and Denmark increased their programs of record by 25 and 16 aircraft, respectively, while other partners reached major milestones. Finland rolled out its first F-35, Belgium welcomed its first aircraft on home soil, and Norway completed deliveries of its full fleet—each event marking a significant step in the expansion of fifth-generation capability across Europe.

Historic Production and Sustainment Agreements

In September, the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) and Lockheed Martin finalized Lots 18–19, covering the production and delivery of up to 296 aircraft valued at $24 billion. The agreement represents the largest production contracts in the history of the program, further solidifying long-term industrial stability for the global supply chain.

The year also saw agreement on an Air Vehicle Sustainment Contract, supporting annualized sustainment activities across the F-35 enterprise for 2025 and beyond—an essential step as the fleet continues to expand and mature.

Reflecting on the year’s achievements, Chauncey McIntosh, Vice President and General Manager of the F-35 Lightning II Program, emphasized the enterprise-wide effort behind the results:

“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. 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.”

As 2026 begins, the F-35 program enters the year not only as the world’s most widely deployed fifth-generation fighter, but as a mature, combat-tested system shaping allied airpower across multiple theatres—at scale, at speed, and under real-world operational pressure.