US Army to Acquire 850 Advanced F-35 Stealth Jets in Landmark Deal
Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba
The US Army will acquire at least 850 F-35 stealth jets under a ten-year framework agreement with Lockheed Martin, which includes spare parts and maintenance. Lockheed Martin will fund $7 billion in program initiatives, and the deal aims to maintain an annual production rate of 156 aircraft. The agreement requires Congressional approval and budget allocation. In related news, Israel committed to purchasing a fourth F-35 squadron and a second F-15IA squadron.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- US Army to acquire at least 850 F-35 stealth jets in a ten-year framework agreement.
- Lockheed Martin will fund at least $7 billion in program initiatives from its own resources.
- The deal aims to maintain an annual production rate of 156 F-35 aircraft.
- The agreement requires Congressional approval and budget allocation for implementation.
- Israel committed in May to purchasing a fourth squadron of F-35 jets.
- The IDF's force-building plan for the next decade has a budget of 350 billion shekels.
The Pentagon and Lockheed Martin announced a ten-year framework agreement today for the US Army to acquire at least 850 F-35 stealth fighter jets. The deal also includes initial spare parts, upgrade kits, and maintenance services for the global fleet.
As part of the long-term commitment, Lockheed Martin will fund at least $7 billion in initiatives for the program from its own resources. The agreement aims to maintain a production rate of 156 aircraft per year, encompassing orders from both the US and international customers.
US Under Secretary of the Army Michael Duffy stated that the agreement with Lockheed Martin fundamentally changes how the American defense industry is stabilized for rapid, large-scale production. The framework's implementation is contingent on Congressional approval for multi-year procurement and the allocation of necessary budgets. If approvals are secured in the coming months, the Pentagon's F-35 program office and Lockheed Martin will finalize terms, pricing, and schedules in a formal contract.
Lockheed Martin Chairman and CEO Jim Taiclet highlighted that the certainty provided by the agreement will enable the company to invest in expanding production capacity and building a more resilient supply chain. He added that the deal benefits taxpayers, suppliers, and primarily the United States and its allies. The manufacturer estimates the program will support over 315,000 jobs and generate nearly $80 billion in economic activity over the next decade.
Separately, Israel committed in May to purchasing a fourth squadron of F-35 jets from Lockheed Martin, in addition to a second squadron of Boeing F-15IA aircraft. The Ministerial Committee for Procurement approved this move, initiating the IDF's force-building plan for the coming decade with a budget of 350 billion shekels. Defense Minister Israel Katz cited lessons from the conflict with Iran as necessitating accelerated rearmament, while Director General of the Ministry of Defense, Maj. Gen. (res.) Amir Baram, called the approval a "first and central step" in realizing the plan.