Pentagon Halves F-35 Orders, Shifts Defense Spending

The US Department of Defense has halved its order for Air Force F-35 fighter jets for fiscal year 2026 from 48 to 24, as part of an 8% reduction in defense spending planned over the next five years. The budget shift reallocates funds toward advanced technologies such as the next-generation F-47 fighter, nuclear modernization, missile defense, submarines, and drone programs. The Navy and Marine Corps are also facing cuts to their F-35 allocations. The Pentagon's proposal includes additional reconciliation funds still pending in Congress, signaling a strategic pivot to cost-effective and future-oriented capabilities. Growing concerns over the F-35’s high costs, technical issues, and evolving global threats, including China’s new sixth-generation fighters, have influenced the decision. Lockheed Martin, which relies heavily on the F-35 program, now faces uncertainty as lawmakers debate the final defense budget.