Pentagon Halves Air Force F-35 Request in 2025 Budget

The Pentagon has significantly reduced its funding request to Congress for the U.S. Air Force’s Lockheed Martin F-35 jets, cutting its order by 50%, according to Bloomberg News. The Defense Department’s procurement request, sent to Capitol Hill this week, seeks funding for 24 F-35 aircraft, down from the 48 projected last year.

Reuters has not independently verified the report. Neither Lockheed Martin nor the Defense Department provided comments outside regular business hours.

The Air Force’s revised request includes $3.5 billion for the F-35 purchase and an additional $531 million for advance procurement of materials, Bloomberg reported. The Navy’s request also shrank, seeking 12 F-35C carrier-based jets, down from 17 approved by Congress for the current fiscal year. The Marine Corps would see a reduction of two aircraft from this year’s funding levels.

Lockheed Martin’s F-35 program has faced delays due to ongoing technology upgrades. In May, the company’s chief financial officer said Lockheed expects to finalize a new contract for the fighter jets soon. Despite delays, Lockheed delivered 110 F-35 aircraft to the U.S. and allied nations in 2024. The F-35 remains a key revenue driver for Lockheed, accounting for roughly 30% of the defense contractor’s total revenue.

The Pentagon’s F-35 cuts come amid broader budget pressures and debates over long-term defense spending priorities, as Congress weighs how best to balance modernization efforts across multiple military branches.

Related News: https://airguide.info/?s=Lockheed+Martin

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, yahoo.com