How Many F-35s Have Been Built? Production and Deliveries
More than 1,375 F-35s have been delivered, according to the figure on Lockheed Martin’s programme site in early October 2026. That makes it the most numerous fighter in Western production by a wide margin, with more than 3,000 planned over the life of the programme.
The path there has been uneven. Deliveries stopped for a year in 2023 and 2024 while the TR-3 upgrade was sorted out, then hit a record 191 in 2025 as stored jets were released. This guide answers how many F-35s have been built, how fast they are coming off the line and how many more are planned.
How many F-35s have been delivered?
Lockheed Martin’s running total stood at more than 1,375 in early October 2026. The company had delivered 1,293 by the end of 2025 and reported 51 more in the first half of 2026. Built and delivered are not quite the same number, since aircraft are counted as delivered only when the government formally accepts them.
Most have gone to the United States. The Pentagon’s testing office counted 812 F-35s delivered to the US services by 30 September 2025. The rest are spread across the partner and export customers listed in which countries have the F-35.
| Year | Deliveries | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 2017 | 266 | Low-rate production from 2011 |
| 2018 | 91 | |
| 2019 | 134 | |
| 2020 | 120 | Pandemic disruption |
| 2021 | 142 | |
| 2022 | 141 | |
| 2023 | 98 | Deliveries of TR-3 jets halted from July |
| 2024 | 110 | Deliveries resumed in July |
| 2025 | 191 | Record year; stored jets released |
| First half of 2026 | 51 |
Why did deliveries stop in 2023?
The Pentagon refused to accept aircraft built with the new TR-3 computer hardware until the software was stable enough to fly safely. Production continued, so finished jets were parked at Fort Worth. Reports at the time put the number in storage at more than 100.
Acceptance resumed in July 2024 with an interim software version suitable for training. That is why 2025 looks so strong: Lockheed delivered a year’s production plus the backlog. It does not mean those jets are fully capable. The testing office said none of the 158 TR-3 aircraft delivered by September 2025 was combat-capable.
How fast are F-35s being built?
The production system is sized for 156 aircraft a year, the rate Lockheed Martin describes as full. The Pentagon formally approved full-rate production in March 2024, more than a decade later than first planned, after the jet completed its combat testing.
Final assembly takes place on three lines. Fort Worth, Texas, builds the great majority. Cameri in Italy assembles aircraft for Italy and the Netherlands, and Nagoya in Japan assembles Japanese F-35As. The current contract, Lots 18 and 19, covers 296 aircraft and was finalised in September 2025. Unit prices are in our guide to how much an F-35 costs.
How many F-35s will be built in total?
The United States plans 2,456: 1,763 for the Air Force and 693 for the Navy and Marine Corps. Foreign orders and plans add more than 900. On those numbers production would continue into the 2040s.
| Customer | Planned |
|---|---|
| US Air Force | 1,763 F-35A |
| US Marine Corps | 280 F-35B and 140 F-35C |
| US Navy | 273 F-35C |
| Partner and export customers | More than 900 |
| Total | More than 3,300 |
Those figures are plans, not contracts. The Air Force has bought fewer F-35As each year than its original schedule assumed, and a future decision to trim the US total would not be a surprise. Against that, export demand has grown: Finland, Switzerland, Germany, Greece, the Czech Republic and Romania have all signed since 2021.
How does that compare with other fighters?
No other fifth-generation aircraft comes close. Production of the F-22 ended at 195, including test aircraft. Russia has built a few dozen Su-57s. China does not publish figures for the J-20, though outside estimates put it at several hundred.
Among aircraft still in production, only the F-16 has a longer record, at more than 4,600 since the 1970s. The F-35 passed 1,000 aircraft in 2024. The manufacturer is described in our Lockheed Martin company profile, and the aircraft in what the F-35 is.
Frequently asked questions
How many F-35s are there in 2026?
More than 1,375 had been delivered by early October 2026, according to Lockheed Martin.
How many F-35s does the US have?
The US services had received 812 by 30 September 2025, according to the Pentagon’s testing office. The plan is 2,456.
How many F-35s are built each year?
The line is sized for 156 a year. Lockheed Martin delivered 191 in 2025 because it also released jets held in storage.
Where is the F-35 built?
Final assembly is at Fort Worth, Texas, with additional lines at Cameri in Italy and Nagoya in Japan.
How many F-35s will be built in total?
More than 3,300 on current plans: 2,456 for the United States and more than 900 for other countries.
How many F-22s were built by comparison?
195, including test aircraft. Production ended in 2011.
- Lockheed Martin – F-35 global enterprise: f35.com
- The Aviationist – Lockheed Martin delivered 191 F-35s in 2025: theaviationist.com
- The Aviationist – DOT&E says no combat-capable TR-3 F-35s were delivered in FY2025: theaviationist.com
- Janes – Lockheed Martin delivers record number of F-35s in 2025: janes.com
- Breaking Defense – Lockheed, Pentagon finalize deal for 296 F-35s: breakingdefense.com
- Wikipedia – Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II: en.wikipedia.org
