Lockheed Martin Inks 10-Year F-35 Framework Deal With Government

By Kelly Cloonan

Lockheed Martin and the Defense Department are laying plans for a 10-year agreement for production and sustainment of F-35 jet fighters that would eliminate the annual contracting cycle.

Under the framework agreement, announced Thursday, Lockheed would produce 850 aircraft for the U.S. and provide sustainment services over 10 years, along with spare parts and international customer orders. The deal would keep production at a rate of 156 aircraft annually.

For Lockheed, the multiyear framework would allow the company to make the upfront investments needed to expand capacity for its F-35 business, Chief Executive Jim Taiclet said.

"That's good for the taxpayer, good for our suppliers and, most importantly, good for the United States and its allies," Taiclet said.

For the Defense Department, the framework is designed to provide predictable, multiyear procurement planning that eliminates the need for supplemental appropriations.

Lockheed Martin said it would work with the F-35 joint program office to finalize contract terms, pricing and schedules through a formal contract award if granted multiyear authority and associated appropriations in the coming months.

The program is expected to generate about $79 billion in annual economic activity and support 317,000 U.S. jobs over the next decade.

More than 1,375 F-35s are currently fielded around the globe.

Write to Kelly Cloonan at kelly.cloonan@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

October 22, 2026 07:39 ET (11:39 GMT)