Lockheed Martin Sets New Record with F-35 Deliveries
In a notable achievement, Lockheed Martin delivered an unprecedented 191 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters last year, surpassing previous records and marking a milestone in the program’s history. This surge in deliveries comes as the defense giant worked diligently to address a backlog of jets that had accumulated due to prior delays.
The previous delivery record for the F-35 program stood at 142 aircraft in 2021. The years 2023 and 2024 saw slower delivery rates, with only 98 and 110 jets delivered respectively. These reductions were primarily due to the Department of Defense’s pause on accepting new F-35s, which was a result of complications with the Technology Refresh 3, or TR-3, updates. Over the last three years, Lockheed has managed an average annual delivery of 133 F-35s.
The TR-3 updates are critical, providing improved displays, enhanced computer memory, and increased processing capabilities. These upgrades are essential prerequisites for the subsequent, more comprehensive modernization phase known as Block 4.
Despite the importance of TR-3, the upgrade faced numerous delays. The government halted the acceptance of new F-35s slated to include TR-3 in July 2023, leading to Lockheed storing numerous new jets at its facilities, primarily in Fort Worth, Texas. This pause lasted a year, during which efforts were made to implement a partial or “truncated” version of the TR-3 software, allowing deliveries to resume in July 2024. Lockheed successfully cleared the backlog by May of the following year.
The delays in delivery and the initial use of TR-3 solely for training missions, rather than combat, impacted the Air Force and other services. Lockheed stated in June 2025 that the final software update necessary to complete TR-3 had been delivered the previous year.
Globally, nearly 1,300 F-35s have accumulated over 1 million flight hours, according to Lockheed. The aircraft has played pivotal roles in various military operations, including Operation Midnight Hammer, where F-35s were instrumental in suppressing Iranian air defenses during strikes on nuclear facilities.
Additionally, last summer witnessed Dutch F-35s, in coordination with Polish fighters, successfully intercept and neutralize multiple Russian drones within Polish airspace. This was a significant event, marking the first engagement of NATO F-35s against threats in allied airspace, as reported by Lockheed.
