The U.S. Department of Defense is cutting its 2026 request for Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets in half, according to a Bloomberg report released Tuesday.
Instead of the 48 F-35As forecast last year for the Air Force, the Pentagon is now asking Congress for just 24. The Navy’s order drops from 17 F-35Cs to 12, while the Marine Corps will receive two fewer jets, though it’s unclear whether these are F-35Bs, F-35Cs, or both.
The Pentagon’s budget request now includes $3.5 billion for the F-35 program, plus $531 million for advance procurement. These figures are part of a broader cost-cutting effort, likely tied to anticipated defense budget reductions proposed by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
Lockheed Martin, which delivered 110 F-35s globally in 2024, has not commented. The F-35 accounts for about 30% of Lockheed’s revenue.
The decision also reflects a shift in defense priorities. The Pentagon is investing more in future systems like the Boeing F-47 and related unmanned platforms. Lockheed has proposed a major upgrade to the F-35, describing it as a “supercharged” version with technology from the Next Generation Air Dominance program.
Poland also announced it is delaying the purchase of 32 Black Hawk helicopters, citing a change in defense priorities.
