LM exceeds F-35 delivery goal for 2019

Lockheed Martin delivered 134 F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters (JSFs) in 2019, exceeding the joint government and industry goal for the year by three aircraft.

An F-35C on USS George Washington (CVN-73) during development testing earlier in 2019. Lockheed Martin beat its delivery goal of 131 aircraft in 2019, handing over 134 jets to US and international customers. (Lockheed Martin)

In 2019 deliveries came from low-rate initial production (LRIP) lot 11, and included 81 F-35s for the United States, 30 for international partner nations and 23 for Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Variants comprised 102 conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) F-35As, 25 short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) F-35Bs, and seven carrier variant (CV) F-35Cs.

The 134-figure for 2019 builds on the 91 aircraft delivered in 2018 – an increase of 47%. In 2017 the number was 66. As noted by Lockheed Martin, the goal for 2020 stands at 141 F-35s. Increasing numbers of aircraft are set to roll off the lines at Fort Worth in Texas, Cameri in Italy, and Nagoya in Japan through to peak-production in 2023.

Infographic showing Lockheed Martin’s F-35 deliveries for 2019. (Lockheed Martin)

In October the US Department of Defense (DoD) agreed a USD34 billion deal with Lockheed Martin for the production and delivery of 478 F-35s. The agreement included the 291 United States, 127 international partner, and 60 FMS aircraft in Lots 12, 13, and 14. These orders comprise 351 F-35As, 86 F-35Bs, and 41 F-35Cs.