# Lockheed Martin Unveils a 10-Year Framework to Build 850 F-35s for the U.S. Military

The plan would hold production at 156 jets a year and lock in long-term pricing, but it still needs multiyear authority and appropriations from Congress before a formal contract can be signed.

- Section: [Economy](https://rightnewsrightnow.com/economy/)
- Published: 2026-10-22
- By: RightNewsRightNow Staff
- Canonical page: https://rightnewsrightnow.com/articles/lockheed-martin-10-year-framework-850-f-35-fighter-jets-multiyear-congress-approval/

Lockheed Martin says it has a new long-range plan for the F-35. Fox Business reports the company announced Thursday a production and sustainment framework under which it would build 850 of the fighters for the U.S. military over the next 10 years.

What it covers. The framework also includes initial spares, 10 years of modification kits, sustainment, and international customer orders, at a continued production rate of 156 aircraft a year. Lockheed says the deal is expected to save billions of dollars through long-term pricing and volume discounts.

The condition. The plan is pending multiyear authority and appropriations from Congress. If granted, the company and the F-35 Joint Program Office could then settle contract terms, prices and schedules in a formal award. Until then it is a framework, not a signed contract.

The pitch. CEO Jim Taiclet said that with greater certainty from the government's approach, "we can make the upfront investments needed to expand capacity, improve efficiency and build a more resilient supply chain." He called that "good for the taxpayer, good for our suppliers and, most importantly, good for the United States and its allies." Lockheed says long-term supplier contracts would allow bulk buying of raw materials and critical parts, cut bottlenecks and end the annual contracting cycles that it says have constrained the industrial base. OJ Sanchez, who runs Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, said it "gives suppliers stability to plan for the future."

The numbers Lockheed gave. The program would support 317,000 U.S. jobs and about $79 billion in annual economic activity over the decade, the company says. It counts more than 1,375 F-35s fielded worldwide, over 1 million flight hours, 42 bases and 13 countries operating the jet on their home soil.

Note for readers: the job, savings and economic figures are Lockheed's own and were not independently verified.

## Source

Original reporting: [Fox Business](https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/lockheed-martin-unveils-10-year-framework-produce-850-f-35-fighter-jets-us-military)