The Pentagon Will Receive 300 Newest F-35s 0 67

The Pentagon and the defense contractor Lockheed Martin have signed a contract for the delivery of approximately 300 newest fifth-generation F-35 fighters. This was reported by Defense News.

The deal is worth $12.5 billion. Under the 18th and 19th batches, 148 aircraft are planned to be delivered each. Deliveries of the fighters will begin in 2026. According to Lockheed Martin, the increase in the aircraft's cost will be below the inflation rate in the U.S.

In September, the publication reported that the company Anduril was preparing to conduct flight tests of the semi-autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle YFQ-44A with leading fighters F-35 and F-47 in mid-October.

In the same month, the portal noted that, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, the program for the development and improvement of American fifth-generation fighters F-35 is not yielding sufficient results.