Skip to content
Multi

Multi

Aero-Mag • October 27, 2026

The Department of War and Lockheed Martin have unveiled a transformative framework agreement for multi-year F-35 production and sustainment. This framework includes 850 US aircraft over 10 years with associated initial spares, 10 years of modification kits and sustainment, and international customer orders across Lots 21-30, at a continued production rate of 156 aircraft per year. "This multi-year framework strengthens the way we can plan and invest in the F-35 enterprise," said Lockheed Martin Chairman, president and CEO Jim Taiclet. "With the greater certainty that comes from the U.S. government's transformative approach to F-35 production and sustainment, we can make the upfront investments needed to expand capacity, improve efficiency, and build a more resilient supply chain. That's good for the taxpayer, good for our suppliers and, most importantly, good for the United States and its allies." If granted multi-year authority and associated appropriations in the coming months, the F-35 Joint Program Office and Lockheed Martin will work to finalise contract terms, pricing, and schedules through a formal contract award, which will fulfil the government's imperative for a predictable, affordable, and resilient fighter jet enterprise. This effort is expected to save taxpayers billions of dollars over F-35's lifecycle through long-term pricing and industry volume discounts. The framework agreement directly addresses Department of War and Congressional priorities to improve F-35 readiness by: Providing predictable, multi-year procurement planning that eliminates the need for supplemental appropriations for, obsolescence management and production tooling. Delivering high-volume procurement efficiencies and discounts that translate into tangible taxpayer savings. Ensuring transparent, data driven decision-making through integrated analytics that link budget inputs to readiness outcomes. Providing real-time visibility into parts inventory and readiness metrics through integrated analytics Highlights Supply Chain Stability – Predictable demand from long-term contracts with suppliers will enable bulk procurement of raw materials and critical parts, slashing turnaround times and reducing logistics bottlenecks. This will result in better mission capable rates by eliminating the annual contracting cycle that has historically strained the industrial base Affordability – The integrated procurement model that pairs aircraft production with purchases of spare and modification parts will deliver high-volume procurement discounts, drive down unit prices and provide the U.S. government the cost predictability it requires Economic Impact – The program will support 317,000 U.S. jobs and generate approximately $79 billion in annual economic activity over the decade, strengthening the nation's industrial base and providing long-term stability for suppliers who have struggled to plan under the resourcing model Readiness – This framework adds investments in industry capacity and logistics that build upon Lockheed Martin's existing investments that inject parts into the global spares pool and will further improve fleet readiness and rapid repair turnaround for operations International Benefits – The multi-year procurement model enables economies of scale that lower costs and enhance readiness for all F 35 customers, reinforcing confidence in the global sustainment network and enhancing interoperability across allied fleets "Our new multi-year framework gives suppliers stability to plan for the future and invest with confidence, improving readiness across the F-35 fleet," said OJ Sanchez, president of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. "This, in addition to the investments Lockheed Martin is making to the global spares pool, will directly translate into higher mission capable rates and a more resilient supply chain – critical capabilities the warfighter needs to meet today's mission and prepare for tomorrow's threats."

The Department of War and Lockheed Martin have unveiled a transformative framework agreement for multi-year F-35 production and sustainment.

This framework includes 850 US aircraft over 10 years with associated initial spares, 10 years of modification kits and sustainment, and international customer orders across Lots 21-30, at a continued production rate of 156 aircraft per year.

"This multi-year framework strengthens the way we can plan and invest in the F-35 enterprise," said Lockheed Martin Chairman, president and CEO Jim Taiclet. "With the greater certainty that comes from the U.S. government's transformative approach to F-35 production and sustainment, we can make the upfront investments needed to expand capacity, improve efficiency, and build a more resilient supply chain. That's good for the taxpayer, good for our suppliers and, most importantly, good for the United States and its allies."

If granted multi-year authority and associated appropriations in the coming months, the F-35 Joint Program Office and Lockheed Martin will work to finalise contract terms, pricing, and schedules through a formal contract award, which will fulfil the government's imperative for a predictable, affordable, and resilient fighter jet enterprise. This effort is expected to save taxpayers billions of dollars over F-35's lifecycle through long-term pricing and industry volume discounts.

The framework agreement directly addresses Department of War and Congressional priorities to improve F-35 readiness by:

Providing predictable, multi-year procurement planning that eliminates the need for supplemental appropriations for, obsolescence management and production tooling.

Delivering high-volume procurement efficiencies and discounts that translate into tangible taxpayer savings.

Ensuring transparent, data driven decision-making through integrated analytics that link budget inputs to readiness outcomes.

Providing real-time visibility into parts inventory and readiness metrics through integrated analytics

Supply Chain Stability – Predictable demand from long-term contracts with suppliers will enable bulk procurement of raw materials and critical parts, slashing turnaround times and reducing logistics bottlenecks. This will result in better mission capable rates by eliminating the annual contracting cycle that has historically strained the industrial base

Affordability – The integrated procurement model that pairs aircraft production with purchases of spare and modification parts will deliver high-volume procurement discounts, drive down unit prices and provide the U.S. government the cost predictability it requires

Economic Impact – The program will support 317,000 U.S. jobs and generate approximately $79 billion in annual economic activity over the decade, strengthening the nation's industrial base and providing long-term stability for suppliers who have struggled to plan under the resourcing model

Readiness – This framework adds investments in industry capacity and logistics that build upon Lockheed Martin's existing investments that inject parts into the global spares pool and will further improve fleet readiness and rapid repair turnaround for operations

International Benefits – The multi-year procurement model enables economies of scale that lower costs and enhance readiness for all F 35 customers, reinforcing confidence in the global sustainment network and enhancing interoperability across allied fleets

"Our new multi-year framework gives suppliers stability to plan for the future and invest with confidence, improving readiness across the F-35 fleet," said OJ Sanchez, president of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. "This, in addition to the investments Lockheed Martin is making to the global spares pool, will directly translate into higher mission capable rates and a more resilient supply chain – critical capabilities the warfighter needs to meet today's mission and prepare for tomorrow's threats."

Building 7000 Langstone Technology Park PO9 1SW GLOBAL

Interested in reading more aerospace stories?

Honeywell and Aeronamic collaboration delivers new F‑35 sustainment asset

Honeywell Aerospace in collaboration with Aeronamic, an aircraft components and services provider based in the Netherlands, has announced the commencement of a Modular Test Cell at the Royal Netherlands Air & Space Force (RNLASF), Woensdrecht Air Support Command.

Honeywell Aerospace in collaboration with Aeronamic, an aircraft components and services provider based in the Netherlands, has announced the commencement of a Modular Test Cell at the Royal Netherlands Air & Space Force (RNLASF), Woensdrecht Air Support Command.

Finland welcomes its first permanently based F‑35A aircraft

Finland has celebrated the arrival of its first two permanently based Lockheed Martin F-35A aircraft in country, marking the beginning of a new era of fifth generation capability for the Finnish Defence Forces.

Finland has celebrated the arrival of its first two permanently based Lockheed Martin F-35A aircraft in country, marking the beginning of a new era of fifth generation capability for the Finnish Defence Forces.

Boeing wins multi‑billion‑dollar contract to build US Navy’s F/A‑XX

The US Navy announced Boeing has been awarded a multi-billion-dollar contract to produce its F/A-XX aircraft.

The US Navy announced Boeing has been awarded a multi-billion-dollar contract to produce its F/A-XX aircraft.

Lockheed Martin Canada announces $10m contract with Contextere

At the Canadian Aerospace Summit in Ottawa, Lockheed Martin Canada announced a CAD $10 million contract with Contextere to advance iMAPLE, its Intelligent Maintenance, Asset, Personnel and Learning Environment. iMAPLE is based on Contextere’s MADISON platform.

WireMasters strengthens harness management & protection offering

Interconnect specialist WireMasters has appointed Chauvin Chhay as Product Manager, strengthening its product management expertise as it looks to expand its Harness Management & Protection (HMP) portfolio and support companies across the aerospace and defence industries.

Hexagon rearchitects Inspire software for easier, faster, 3D scanning

Hexagon's Portable Metrology Division has introduced a major update to Inspire, its inspection software for portable probing and 3D scanning, that help shopfloor manufacturing and quality teams work more efficiently and build 3D metrology directly into their production processes.

From ‘build to last’ to ‘build to evolve’

Alicia Taylor of The Open Group FACE consortium director explains why winning a Modular Open Systems Approaches (MOSA) advantage starts with cultural change.

Q5D to demonstrate scalable drone wiring automation at Advanced Engineering

Q5D Technologies (Q5D), the UK robotics company specialising in automated wire harness production, will showcase its latest technology on stand H150 at the Advanced Engineering 2026, 4–5 November at the NEC, Birmingham, at the invitation of the event’s organisers.

Vericut to showcase practical manufacturing innovation at Advanced Engineering

Vericut will demonstrate how CNC simulation, verification, optimisation and post-processing technologies can help manufacturers address key production challenges at Advanced Engineering 2026, taking place at the NEC Birmingham on 4–5 November.

Extracted Entities

Companies (1)

Platforms (2)