Lockheed Martin achieved a historic milestone last year, delivering 191 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters—the highest annual total in the program’s history, the company announced. The record-breaking figure significantly surpasses the previous high of 142 jets in 2021 and marks a major rebound following two slower years caused by technical and delivery delays.
In 2023, Lockheed delivered 98 F-35s, followed by 110 in 2024. Those numbers were affected by a decision from the U.S. Department of Defense to halt acceptance of new F-35s due to issues with the Technology Refresh 3 (TR-3) updates. TR-3 was designed to enhance the fighter’s displays, computing memory, and processing power, forming a necessary foundation for the aircraft’s next-generation modernization, known as Block 4. Over the three-year slowdown, Lockheed averaged 133 deliveries per year.
The TR-3 program, however, suffered multiple delays. In July 2023, the Pentagon stopped accepting deliveries of F-35s equipped with TR-3, forcing Lockheed to store dozens of brand-new jets at its Fort Worth, Texas, facilities. The delivery halt created a backlog that would take nearly a year to clear.
Lockheed and government officials worked to implement a “truncated” version of the TR-3 software, sufficient to resume deliveries. By July 2024, the delivery freeze was lifted, and the backlog of jets was cleared by May 2025. Despite the resolution, the earlier delays had ripple effects across the Air Force and allied forces, as TR-3 initially could only be used for training missions rather than combat operations. Lockheed reported in June 2025 that the final software update needed to complete TR-3 was successfully delivered last year.
The F-35 program now boasts nearly 1,300 jets in operation worldwide, collectively logging more than 1 million flight hours. The aircraft has played increasingly prominent roles in global operations, demonstrating its versatility and combat capabilities. One notable example includes the suppression of Iranian air defenses during the Operation Midnight Hammer strikes on nuclear facilities.
Lockheed highlighted other international engagements as well. Last summer, Dutch F-35s, operating alongside Polish fighters, engaged and shot down multiple Russian drones in Poland’s airspace. According to Lockheed, this marked the first time NATO F-35s actively engaged threats in allied airspace, signaling the aircraft’s growing importance in collective defense.
The surge in deliveries also underscores Lockheed Martin’s effort to recover from the multi-year TR-3 disruption. Company officials said the 2025 deliveries effectively eliminated the backlog, ensuring that U.S. and allied forces could field a full complement of operational F-35s. Lockheed continues to focus on refining software and hardware upgrades that will enable the aircraft’s Block 4 modernization, which promises enhanced combat capabilities and broader interoperability among allied air forces.
Defense analysts note that the record F-35 delivery year reflects both the maturation of the program and the increasing demand for advanced fifth-generation fighters in global militaries. “The 191 deliveries show that Lockheed has not only cleared the backlog but is accelerating production to meet rising international requirements,” said one analyst.
As Lockheed Martin looks ahead, the focus will remain on integrating advanced TR-3 capabilities, expanding Block 4 upgrades, and supporting allied deployments around the globe. With combat-proven performance and a growing fleet, the F-35 continues to assert itself as a central pillar of modern air power.
