# DoD Sets 10-Year F-35 Framework

On October 22, 2026, the Department of Defense and Lockheed Martin announced a 10-year framework intended to cover at least 850 U.S. F-35s, with production planned at 156 aircraft annually and initial spares, sustainment, and modification kits included. It is not yet a formal contract: pricing and schedules remain to be negotiated, and implementation depends on congressional authorization and appropriations. Lockheed says it will contribute at least $7 billion for program-support initiatives. The development comes as the company reports a $292 billion backlog, including $52.5 billion associated with its multi-year PAC-3 MSE award, while F-35 Lot 20 funding and authorization remain a risk for execution and cash flow.

- Suppliers may find downstream demand for aircraft parts, spares, modification kits, sustainment, and production-capacity expansion, but should treat the framework as a prospective opportunity rather than an awarded contract.
- The framework’s total value and per-aircraft pricing are undisclosed. Companies evaluating investment or capacity plans should account for the unresolved terms and congressional approval dependency.
- The current stopgap funding measure runs through December 11, 2026; procurement planning should account for the pending FY2027 authorization and appropriations process.
- Lockheed’s PAC-3 activity signals parallel demand in missile supply chains, including propulsion, seekers, and components; suppliers can distinguish these existing production opportunities from the still-pending F-35 framework.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Defense & Military
**Topics:** Grants & Funding
**Published:** October 23, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)
- United States Congress (Congress)
- F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO)

### Vendors
- Lockheed Martin Corporation (Prime contractor for the F-35 program and PAC-3 MSE production)
- Boeing (PAC-3 seeker production contractor)
- L3Harris (PAC-3 propulsion contractor)
- Northrop Grumman (Subcontractor for propulsion and other components)

### Key Quotes
> We have fundamentally changed how we stabilize the American defense industrial base to produce at speed and scale. This agreement ⁠with Lockheed Martin proves it. By aligning financial incentives with actual performance, we are ensuring our warfighters are equipped with the lethal capabilities they need to fight and win.
> — Michael Duffey, Under Secretary of Defense

> With the greater certainty that comes from the U.S. government’s transformative approach to F-35 production and sustainment, we can make the upfront investments needed to expand capacity, improve efficiency, and build a more resilient supply chain.
> — Jim Taiclet, CEO of Lockheed Martin

### Sources
- [Lockheed Martin Reports Third Quarter 2026 Financial Results — TradingView News](https://www.tradingview.com/news/prnewswire:020f1dc6d3acc:0-lockheed-martin-reports-third-quarter-2026-financial-results) - TradingView
- [Lockheed Martin raises outlook as backlog reaches $292 billion](https://finchannel.com/lockheed-martin-raises-outlook-as-backlog-reaches-292-billion/139086/american-business-trends/2026/10) - finchannel
- [Lockheed Martin posts earnings beat, but Quant rating keeps it outside top five defense stocks — TradingView News](https://www.tradingview.com/news/seekingalpha:61bb15db6094b:0-lockheed-martin-posts-earnings-beat-but-quant-rating-keeps-it-outside-top-five-defense-stocks) - TradingView