F-35 fighter jet program faces major setback as Pentagon cuts Air Force order

The Pentagon has sharply reduced its request for new F-35 fighter jets, asking Congress to fund just 24 aircraft for the Air Force in fiscal 2026, half the number projected last year, marking a significant blow to Lockheed Martin, the lead contractor on the $2 trillion weapons program.

According to a newly submitted procurement document reviewed on Capitol Hill, the Air Force now seeks $3.5 billion for the purchase of 24 F-35A jets, far below the previous estimate of 48, Caliber.Az reports, referencing foreign media.

An additional $531 million is requested for the advance procurement of parts and materials to support future production.

The Air Force’s decision is particularly consequential given that it is the largest operator and intended buyer of the F-35, with a planned fleet of 1,763 aircraft. The proposed reduction reflects the broader pressure from Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s mandate to reduce projected US defence spending by 8% over the next five years. Hegseth’s strategy, outlined earlier this year, protects 17 critical capability areas from cuts, but manned aircraft like the F-35 were notably excluded. Instead, the Air Force’s latest drone development program was among the few safeguarded from reductions.

Lockheed Martin’s supporters on Capitol Hill are expected to push back against the proposed F-35 cuts as the budget process moves forward. Changes are still possible as Congress weighs the Pentagon's overall spending blueprint.

Meanwhile, other branches of the military are also facing F-35 procurement reductions. The Navy is requesting $1.95 billion for 12 of its carrier-based F-35C jets, down from 17 approved in the current fiscal year. Another $401.5 million is earmarked for advance procurement. The Marine Corps plans to buy 11 F-35Bs, a short takeoff and vertical landing variant, for $1.78 billion, down two aircraft from last year, alongside $113.7 million for advanced materials.

The F-35 program, which includes development, acquisition, and decades of maintenance and upgrades, now carries a projected total cost nearing $2 trillion. Of that, $485 billion is earmarked for producing 2,456 jets for the US military, with approximately 967 units currently on contract and 747 already delivered.

Despite its role as a cornerstone of American air power, the F-35 has become a political lightning rod. Under President Donald Trump, criticism of the jet has intensified. Tech billionaire Elon Musk, formerly a close Trump adviser on cost-cutting, took a public swipe at the program in December, calling its continued production misguided in the era of unmanned systems: “Some idiots are still building manned fighter jets like the F-35,” he said.

Right-wing commentator Laura Loomer echoed those sentiments in April, calling the aircraft “a scandal that’s quietly draining our nation’s resources while compromising our military readiness every day.”

The Pentagon is currently operating under a stopgap funding measure, as Congress has yet to pass a formal budget for the Defence Department, adding further uncertainty to the future of the F-35 program.

By Tamilla Hasanova