The Pentagon and Lockheed Martin have reached a preliminary long-term agreement covering the production and maintenance of at least 850 F-35 Lightning II fighter jets over the coming decade, setting a framework for one of America’s most important military aircraft programs. Reuters reports.

Under the arrangement, Lockheed Martin expects to maintain production at roughly 156 aircraft annually while also providing maintenance support, spare parts and equipment for the expanding fleet.

The company has also committed to privately financing at least $7 billion in program-related initiatives, including investments aimed at strengthening production capacity and supply chains.

The F-35 remains a central component of American air power and is also operated by key U.S. allies, including Israel. The aircraft is used in a variety of missions, including air superiority, precision strikes and intelligence-gathering.

The proposed framework is expected to support hundreds of thousands of American jobs and generate substantial economic activity tied to manufacturing, logistics and maintenance across the United States.

The agreement remains preliminary. Final contract terms, pricing and production schedules will still require additional approvals and procurement authorization.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)