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F-35 Costs Rise Up To 11% In Latest Production Lots

September 4, 2026

2 min read

Key Takeaways

F-35A cost rises to $92 million, up 11.5%.
F-35B cost increases to $121.4 million, up 11.4%.
F-35C cost climbs to $110.8 million, up 8.5%.
Total lifecycle costs dip below $2 trillion.

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Strategic Implications

The cost increase may indicate challenges in controlling production expenses, which could impact Lockheed Martin's competitive positioning in future defense contracts. The rise in costs suggests ongoing supply chain and inflation pressures, which may influence procurement decisions and budget allocations for the F-35 program.

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What Happened

Pentagon Reveals Higher Prices For All Three F-35 Variants

The cost of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter has increased by as much as 11% across all three variants, according to the Pentagon. The average flyaway cost of the F-35A rose to $92 million, while the F-35B and F-35C saw increases to $121.4 million and $110.8 million, respectively. The cost increase is attributed to inflation, rising raw material prices, and supply chain issues. Lockheed Martin previously stated that the program is moving into full-rate production and focusing on modernization and sustainment. The news was first reported by Air & Space Forces Magazine and confirmed by Breaking Defense.

Source | Originally Published: September 1, 2026

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