Pentagon keeps buyer secret in $154 million Lockheed F‑35 jet deal
Under the deal, Lockheed will procure materials needed to produce 11 F-35 fighter jets.
Mason Reed 
The Pentagon has awarded Lockheed Martin a major $154 million contract for F-35 fighter jets, though the specific international buyer remains a mystery. According to the official notice released on June 9, the agreement is categorized as a Foreign Military Sale, keeping the identity of the purchasing nation under wraps.
Procurement and Production Timeline
This latest deal tasks Lockheed Martin with the procurement of essential materials required for the manufacturing of 11 F-35 Lightning II fighter jets. The expansive project is currently scheduled for completion by December 2030.
Global Manufacturing Footprint
Production will be a multi-site effort spread across the globe. Fort Worth, Texas, will handle the majority of the load at 59%, followed by El Segundo, California, at 14%, and Warton, United Kingdom, at 9%. Additional site locations—contributing between 2-4% each—include Orlando, Florida; Nashua, New Hampshire; Baltimore, Maryland; San Diego, California; and Cameri, Italy.
The Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, Maryland, is overseeing the contract, with full project funding provided upfront by the Defense Department. The U.S. Navy describes the Lockheed-manufactured F-35 as a cutting-edge, supersonic aircraft that seamlessly integrates advanced stealth technology with high-level agility.
