Lockheed Keeps F-35 Production Steady

Lockheed Martin will hold the current F-35 production rate to prioritise stability and quality over a fast ramp-up.

Lockheed Martin says it will maintain its current F-35 production level rather than accelerating output, citing supply-chain strains, program costs and the need to preserve manufacturing quality. The F-35 Lightning II family — including the F-35A, F-35B and F-35C variants — remains central to NATO and allied air forces, but the company has framed the decision as a deliberate focus on long-term program health.

Why the F-35 production pause matters

The decision affects operators across the globe: the United States Air Force (USAF) and United States Navy (USN), the Royal Air Force (RAF) and multiple NATO partners continue to place orders, but Lockheed is balancing those commitments against component availability and rising program costs. Rather than pushing a rapid increase in output, the company is signalling it will prioritise built-in quality assurance and sustainment — a move that matters for frontline readiness and long-term supportability.

• F-35 production: stability over speed to protect quality and supply-chain resilience.

The F-35 program’s industrial footprint spans dozens of suppliers and international partners. Maintaining a steady production rate helps reduce the risk of assembly errors and ensures spares and sustainment lines can keep up. For air forces flying the F-35A (conventional takeoff/landing), F-35B (short takeoff/vertical landing) and F-35C (carrier variant), reliable deliveries and long-term maintenance support are often as important as faster deliveries.

For analysts and defence planners, the move highlights the trade-offs between rapid capability expansion and lifecycle cost control. Lockheed’s stance suggests a preference to stabilise the program before any significant ramp-up — an approach likely to influence procurement timetables for NATO & allies and national defence budgets that are already under pressure.