U.S. Department of Defense purchases 145 F-35s for U.S. and foreign services

The US DoD has purchased an additional 145 F-35s. (US Air Force)

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has ordered 145 additional Lockheed Martin F-35s for $11.7 billion, signing production batch 18 of the aircraft, according to a Dec. 20 announcement. Deliveries of the order are expected to begin in 2026, said the Joint Program Office (JPO), which administers acquisitions for F-35 customers.
Jane
on December 23.

Of the 145 F-35s, 48 ​​will be F-35As intended for the US Air Force. The United States Marine Corps is to receive 16 F-35Bs, capable of vertical takeoff and landing, as well as five catapult-assisted but arrested recovery F-35Cs. The US Navy is allocated 14 F-35Cs. Export customers are allocated 62 F-35Cs – 15 F-35As and one F-35B for unspecified F-35 partner countries and 39 F-35As and seven F-35Bs for additional countries via the F-35 acquisition pathway. U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS). The purchase includes the first F-35s for Canada, Germany, Singapore and Switzerland, the JPO said.

All aircraft will be equipped with Technical Refresh 3, which significantly improves processing power with an L3Harris core processor, a new memory system and an open mission systems architecture. The refresh also includes a new display in the cockpit.

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