F135
FieldedEngine
F135 variants power F-35A, F-35B and F-35C; F-35B lift-system details are outside this batch.
Link Confirmed
Aircraft · Air
F-35 Lightning II
Family of stealth multirole fighters in conventional, short-takeoff and carrier variants.
FieldedAircraftAirMilestone2025
lockheedmartin.com/f35- Milestones11
- Sources21
- Operators—
- Components1
Milestones20062025
Timeline11
- First flightConfirmed
F-35A completes first flight
First flight of the conventional-takeoff F-35A; this does not date the earlier X-35 demonstrator or later F-35B/C first flights.
SourcesLockheed Martin
- First flightConfirmed
F-35B completes first flight
First flight of the short-takeoff/vertical-landing F-35B variant; distinct from both the X-35B demonstrator and the earlier F-35A flight.
SourcesLockheed Martin
- First flightConfirmed
F-35C completes first flight
First flight of the carrier variant, separately dated from the F-35A and F-35B.
SourcesLockheed Martin
- First deliveryConfirmed
USAF accepts first production F-35A
Formal acceptance of AF-7 took place at Fort Worth on May 5; the aircraft flew to Edwards the next day for flight testing. This was not operational readiness.
SourcesLockheed Martin
- ExportConfirmed
First international F-35 delivered to United Kingdom
The first international delivery was an F-35B for the United Kingdom; delivery does not indicate UK operational capability.
SourcesLockheed Martin
- Initial operating capabilityConfirmed
Marine Corps declares F-35B IOC
Variant-specific IOC; not a declaration for the entire F-35 family.
SourcesAir Force Test Center
- Initial operating capabilityConfirmed
USAF declares F-35A initial operational capability
The conventional-takeoff F-35A met the Air Force’s initial readiness criteria. This declaration is variant- and operator-specific.
SourcesU.S. Air Force
- Combat useConfirmed
US Marine Corps F-35B conducts first combat strikes
Marine Corps F-35Bs struck targets in Afghanistan during Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. This dates US F-35B combat use, not the first combat use by every F-35 operator.
SourcesU.S. Department of Defense
- Initial operating capabilityConfirmed
US Navy declares F-35C initial operational capability
The carrier variant achieved IOC after VFA-147 completed carrier qualifications and safe-for-flight certification.
SourcesU.S. Navy
- Combat useConfirmed
USAF F-35As conduct first combat strike
Two USAF F-35As struck an ISIS tunnel network and weapons cache in Iraq. This is the US Air Force milestone, not the Israeli F-35I combat debut.
SourcesU.S. Air Force
- MilestoneConfirmed
F-35 program delivers 191 aircraft during 2025
Lockheed Martin reported 191 deliveries across the family for calendar year 2025. This is an annual production-delivery milestone, not a claim that all aircraft shared the same software configuration.
SourcesLockheed Martin
Solid entries are confirmed, outlined reported, dashed estimated or still to come; dotted italic entries are speculative. Dates show only the precision the sources give.
Built with1
Cost to the government
- Lifecycle costConfirmed$1.58TDollar basis not stated
Sustainment (operating and support) cost estimate through 2088, GAO-24-106703 (April 2024) as cited by CRS; sustainment only, not acquisition.
- Total acquisition costConfirmed$485.20BThen-year $ · 2,470 units
Dec 2023 F-35 SAR via CRS: then-year development + procurement + MilCon for airframe ($401.1B) plus engine ($84.1B). In constant FY2012 dollars the airframe subprogram is ~$291.8B.
- Unit cost (flyaway)Reported$92.0MEstimate / observation: 2026-09 · Then-year $
F-35A average price for Lots 18-19 as confirmed by the F-35 JPO to Breaking Defense (reported Sept 2026); up 11.5% from $82.5M in Lots 15-17. Same reports: F-35B $121.4M (from $109M), F-35C $110.8M (from $102.1M). Recorded for the F-35A variant.
- Unit cost (APUC)Confirmed$133MBY2012 $ · 2,456 units
Average procurement unit cost as of the December 2023 SAR, constant CY2012 dollars (via CRS R48304).
- Unit cost (PAUC)Confirmed$162MBY2012 $ · 2,470 units
Program acquisition unit cost as of the December 2023 SAR, constant CY2012 dollars (via CRS R48304).
- Contract unit priceReported$82.4MEstimate / observation: 2025-09-29 · Then-year $ · 296 units
Lots 18-19 definitized Sept 29, 2025: $24.29B for 296 airframes, average $82.4M per airframe across all variants and customers (Air & Space Forces Magazine calculation). Excludes F135 engines (GFE).
Earlier cost observations (3)
- F-35 Lightning II · Contract unit price · $81.1MEstimate / observation: 2024-12 · Then-year $ · 145 units
Lot 18 undefinitized contract action (Dec 2024), not-to-exceed $11.76B for 145 aircraft: average $81.1M per airframe (excludes engines), per Air & Space Forces Magazine.
Air & Space Forces Magazine - F-35 Lightning II · Unit cost (flyaway) · $82.5MEstimate / observation: 2023-10 · Then-year $
F-35A average flyaway cost for Lots 15-17 (delivered CY2023-2025) per F-35 JPO spokesman Russ Goemaere to Breaking Defense; F-35B $109M and F-35C $102.1M for the same lots. JPO flyaway = airframe, vehicle systems, mission systems, engine and ECO costs.
Breaking Defense - F-35 Lightning II · Unit cost (flyaway) · $62.2MBY2012 $
F-35A average unit recurring flyaway cost (Dec 2023 SAR, CY2012 $), assuming 918 international sales; F-35B $74.6M, F-35C $77.2M.
Congressional Research Service
| Fiscal year | Appropriation | Request | Enacted | Qty | Budget line | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2027 | RDT&E | $4.49B | — | — | — | Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller)Confirmed |
| FY2027 | Procurement | $16.89B | — | 85 | — | Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller)Confirmed |
| FY2027 | Total | $21.38B | — | 85 | — | Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller)Confirmed |
| FY2026 | RDT&E | $2.20B | $1.81B | — | — | Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller)Confirmed |
| FY2026 | Procurement | $10.92B | $11.42B | 47 | — | Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller)Confirmed |
| FY2026 | Total | $13.12B | $13.23B | 47 | — | Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller)Confirmed |
| FY2025 | RDT&E | — | $2.13B | — | — | Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller)Confirmed |
| FY2025 | Procurement | — | $11.21B | 74 | — | Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller)Confirmed |
| FY2025 | Total | — | $13.33B | 74 | — | Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller)Confirmed |
Unit costs and contract unit prices for this product, and budget figures for the programs that buy it. Each figure states its dollar basis and links its source; contract values are under Programs & awards.
News3
Oct 1, 2026NewsOver the Finnish line: Helsinki welcomes home first two F-35 jetsBreaking DefenseSep 17, 2026News (high significance)Australian Department of Defence, Lockheed Martin, U.S. Department of DefenseLockheed Martin reveals new secret missile, fast tracks productionReutersSep 7, 2026NewsPatria, Pratt & WhitneyPatria Completes Finland's First Locally Built F-35 Jet EngineThe Defense Post
Sources21
- 1.
Times of India · Sep 5, 2026 · Supports: Cost · amount
“now costs USD 92 million, up from USD 82.5 million”
- 2.
Lockheed Martin · Jan 7, 2026 · Supports: System milestone
“delivered 191 F-35s in 2025, surpassing the previous delivery record of 142 jets.”
- 3.
Air & Space Forces Magazine · Sep 30, 2025 · Supports: Cost · amount
“That puts the average cost of the airframe across all variants and customers at $82.4 million.”
- 4.
Air & Space Forces Magazine · Aug 25, 2025 · Supports: Cost · amount
“a deal not to exceed $11.76 billion for 145 aircraft, an average cost of $81.1 million”
- 5.Government recordF-35 Lightning II: Background and Issues for Congress (CRS R48304)
Congressional Research Service · Dec 11, 2024 · Supports: Cost · amount
“The corresponding engine cost is $84.1 billion, for a total program cost of $485.2 billion.”
- 6.
Sam Eckholm · Sep 21, 2024 · Supports: System · name
“F-35”
- 7.
Sam Eckholm · Mar 2, 2024 · Supports: System · name
“F-35”
- 8.
Breaking Defense · Oct 26, 2023 · Supports: Cost · amount
“flyaway cost of $82.5 million”
- 9.
Sam Eckholm · Jul 31, 2021 · Supports: System · name
“F-35”
- 10.Government recordJuly 31, 2015: F-35B Testing Declares Initial Operational Capability
Air Force Test Center · Jul 31, 2020 · Supports: System milestone
“The U.S. Marine Corps declared Initial Operational Capability with the F-35B.”
- 11.Government recordU.S. Air Force F-35As conduct first combat employment
U.S. Air Force · Apr 30, 2019 · Supports: System milestone
“This strike marked the F-35A’s first combat employment.”
- 12.Government recordF-35C Achieves Initial Operational Capability
U.S. Navy · Feb 28, 2019 · Supports: System milestone
“the F-35C Lightning II, met all requirements and achieved Initial Operational Capability”
- 13.Government recordMarine Corps F-35B Conducts Combat Strikes in Afghanistan
U.S. Department of Defense · Sep 28, 2018 · Supports: System milestone
“The Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II conducted its first combat strikes”
- 14.Government recordAir Force Declares F-35A Lightning II ‘Combat Ready’
U.S. Air Force · Aug 3, 2016 · Supports: System milestone
“Officials announced Aug. 2, 2016, that the F-35A Lightning II aircraft has achieved initial combat capability.”
- 15.
Lockheed Martin · May 9, 2011 · Supports: System milestone
“The signing of formal acceptance documents for the jet, known as AF-7”
- 16.
Lockheed Martin · Dec 15, 2006 · Supports: System, System milestone
“F-35 Lightning II lifted into the skies today for the first time”
- 17.
Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller) · Supports: Cost · amount
“F-35 Joint Strike Fighter ... 9,920.5 - 1,000.0 47 10,920.5 Total 86 14,271.4”
- 18.
Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller) · Supports: Cost · amount
“F-35 Joint Strike Fighter ... 2,060.9 - 819.3 992.8 1,812.2 - 30 40”
- 19.
Defense Mirror · Supports: Cost · amount
“The average F-35A price in Lots 18 and 19 will be about $92 million, up from $82.5 million.”
- 20.Company20 Years of the F-35
Lockheed Martin · Supports: System milestone
“F-35C completes its first flight.”
- 21.CompanyHistory of the F135 Engine
Pratt & Whitney · Supports: System · system component:f135
“The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), powered by Pratt & Whitney’s F135 engine”
Each fact on this page is attached to the sources that support it. Archived copies are linked when we keep one.