Northrop Grumman hits new F-35 production milestone, bolstering US air power

American aerospace manufacturer Northrop Grumman has achieved a significant advance in U.S. military aviation production, announcing it can now deliver a centre fuselage for the F-35 Lightning II every 30 hours. The milestone underscores the fusion of speed, precision, and reliability in modern defence manufacturing, enhancing the readiness of the fifth-generation fighter fleet for U.S. forces and allied partners.

The F-35 Lightning II, developed by Lockheed Martin with Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems, and Pratt & Whitney, is a stealth multirole fighter designed for air superiority, strike, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

Produced in three variants—F-35A (conventional takeoff/landing), F-35B (short takeoff/vertical landing), and F-35C (carrier-adapted)—the aircraft provides a flexible, interoperable platform across diverse operational environments.

Powered by the Pratt & Whitney F135 engine producing 43,000 pounds of thrust, the F-35 reaches Mach 1.6, with a combat radius of 2,220 km. It carries internal weapons to preserve stealth, including a 20 mm cannon, air-to-air missiles, and precision-guided munitions, with six external hardpoints for heavier loads.

Advanced sensors, including AESA radar, electro-optical targeting, distributed aperture, and helmet-mounted displays, provide unmatched situational awareness.

At the heart of the fighter’s performance is the centre fuselage, housing fuel, internal weapons, air intakes, and flight-operable mechanisms. Its precise assembly is critical to mission effectiveness and stealth capabilities. To date, Northrop Grumman has delivered more than 1,400 fuselages, cementing its pivotal role in the F-35 program.

This production pace is achieved through the Integrated Assembly Line (IAL), a facility that assembles all three F-35 variants on a single line using automated guided vehicles, robotic drilling, and on-site moulding. Real-time production data supports quality control and optimises workforce efficiency. Spanning the size of a football field, the plant operates 115 stations and processes over ten million parts annually.

Northrop Grumman also supplies key subsystems, including radars, communications, and logistics support, ensuring technical consistency and secure supply chains. This industrial integration strengthens the program’s long-term sustainability and adaptability to evolving operational requirements.

The F-35 program, operational since 2015, is now the most widely distributed fifth-generation fighter globally. U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps units operate their respective variants, while allied nations—including the UK, Italy, Norway, Denmark, Israel, Japan, Australia, and South Korea—field the aircraft in various configurations.

Additional partners, including Finland, Poland, Switzerland, Canada, Romania, Greece, Germany, and the Czech Republic, have contracts pending deliveries.

With over 1,200 aircraft delivered by mid-2025, the accelerated fuselage production rate is critical to meeting operational demands and international commitments. The pace achieved at Palmdale not only reinforces U.S. air superiority but also ensures allies can field advanced capabilities reliably and on schedule.

By Aghakazim Guliyev