US cuts 50% budget for F-35 order

The US Air Force appears to have proposed buying just 24 F-35 stealth fighters in 2026, down from the planned 48, in a bid to cut spending.

The Pentagon, Congress and US allies have sent shockwaves through the defence industry by deciding to cut the F-35 procurement requirement beyond 2026, raising questions about the future of the world's most ambitious and expensive weapons programme.

According to the 2026 procurement proposal submitted by the Pentagon to the US Congress and revealed by the media on June 10, the US Air Force plans to buy 24 F-35A stealth fighters produced by Lockheed Martin, halving the 48 aircraft set last year.

The F-35 program grew out of the Joint Strike Fighter program in the 1990s, a development and procurement program to replace multiple types of fighter aircraft. The F-35 promises to replace a range of aging aircraft in the US Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps.

However, the show was plagued by problems from the start, including technical glitches, production delays and soaring costs, making it the target of criticism.

The Air Force’s decision to halve its F-35 order reflects a broader shift in the Pentagon’s strategic calculus under the current administration. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, appointed to implement President Donald Trump’s vision of a leaner, more efficient military, has prioritized aligning defense spending with fiscal realities.

The planned 8 percent cut in military spending over the next five years is forcing the administration to make tough choices, especially on expensive programs like the F-35. Budget constraints are forcing planners to rethink how to allocate resources to manned aircraft, emerging technologies and other defense priorities.

This is a major blow to Lockheed Martin, as the US Air Force is the largest customer for the F-35, with plans to order a total of 1,763 aircraft over the aircraft’s lifespan. The proposed $3.5 billion for 24 F-35As, along with $531 million for pre-purchase, represents a significant scaling back of a program once considered sacrosanct.

The Pentagon also requested $1.95 billion to buy 12 F-35C carrier-based fighters for the Navy, and $1.78 billion to buy 11 F-35B fighters capable of short takeoff and vertical landing. This plan is down 5 and 2 aircraft, respectively, from the number approved by the US Congress for fiscal year 2025.

The shift comes as the Pentagon increasingly focuses on the future of modern warfare, particularly the rise of unmanned systems. Drones, once seen as complements to manned aircraft, are now seen as potential game-changers in aerial combat.

The Pentagon’s decision to prioritize unmanned systems over manned aircraft reflects a recognition that the nature of war is changing, but it also comes with risks. Scaling back the F-35 program could save billions of dollars in the short term, but could undermine the Air Force’s ability to maintain its technological edge in the long term.

In addition, the F-35 stealth fighter has become a focus of criticism under the Trump administration. Elon Musk, once a close ally of Trump, said in December 2024 that "only a fool" would continue to build aircraft like the F-35 in the era of drones.

The reduction in U.S. orders could raise concerns about long-term viability, undermining the confidence of allies who rely on the F-35’s interoperability with U.S. forces. For countries like Japan, which face growing threats from China’s expanding military, the F-35 remains a critical component of deterrence.

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