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Lockheed, Pentagon Strike Initial Deal to Produce 850 F-35 Jets
Oct. 22, 2026 - Lockheed Martin reached an initial production and sustainment agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense covering at least 850 F-35 fighter jets over the next 10 years, with the company committing at least $7 billion of its own funding to support the program. The agreement targets annual production of 156 aircraft and covers U.S. and international orders, initial spare parts and modification kits, but does not constitute a formal order pending potential multi-year contracting authority and final contract terms. Lockheed estimates the agreement will support 317,000 U.S. jobs and generate nearly $79 billion in annual economic activity over the next decade, while helping reduce production costs and supply-chain constraints. (Reuters)
U.S. Air Force Outlines the Fighter Fleet it Needs by 2035
Oct. 21, 2026 - The U.S. Air Force plans to field 1,509 combat-coded fighters by 2035, with F-35s comprising about 40% of the fleet, F-22 replacements (F-47s) accounting for 20%, and F-15s and F-16s splitting the remaining 40%. Reaching the target depends on congressional funding and production capacity at Lockheed Martin and Boeing, while the fiscal 2027 budget requests 38 F-35s and 24 F-15EXs, below the service’s stated goal of purchasing 72 fighters annually. The requirement could change with future operational needs and technology, including Collaborative Combat Aircraft drones, which the Air Force plans to field in a fleet of 500 by 2032. (Air Force Times)
FAA Clears the Way for Airlines to Put Boeing's Long-Delayed 737 Max 10 into Service
Oct. 21, 2026 - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved Boeing’s 737 Max 10 for passenger service, ending years of delays for the largest aircraft in the 737 Max family and allowing Boeing to begin deliveries, which are expected to start in 2027. The aircraft typically seats 185–210 passengers, and Boeing has received 1,555 orders from more than 30 customers, including United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and Ryanair, with the Max 10 designed to compete with Airbus’s A321neo. Certification marks a milestone in Boeing’s recovery from safety and production challenges, but the company must demonstrate consistent manufacturing quality, and each aircraft must be cleared before entering passenger service. (NPR)
Karman Space & Defense Awarded $218M Long-Term Agreement to Support THAAD Production
Oct. 20, 2026 - Karman Space & Defense signed a seven-year, $218 million agreement with Lockheed Martin to manufacture protective shrouds for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptor. The shrouds protect critical interceptor components during launch and flight before separating at the appropriate point in the mission. The agreement provides Karman with long-term demand visibility to invest in engineering, equipment and manufacturing capacity to support increased THAAD production amid growing U.S. and allied demand for missile defense systems. (Business Wire)
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