F-35

The F-35 Program (Line Item ATA000) in the Air Force's FY 2026 budget is a major procurement initiative focused on acquiring and supporting the next generation of multi-role, stealth strike fighters. The program's primary objective is to enhance and field a family of aircraft variants F-35A (Conventional Take Off and Landing), F-35B (Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing), and F-35C (Carrier Variant) to meet the operational needs of the Department of Defense (DoD) and allied partners. The program is managed as a joint effort with no single executive service; the Service Acquisition Executive authority alternates between the Department of the Navy and the Department of the Air Force, with the Navy currently holding this role.

For FY 2026, the Air Force requests funding for the procurement of 24 F-35A aircraft, including associated engines and mission equipment. The procurement supports squadron stand-up, training, and logistics, ensuring that new aircraft are delivered with the necessary support infrastructure. The budget also covers non-recurring flyaway costs, such as tooling to support full-rate production and the integration of Block 4 capabilities, which include advanced avionics and mission systems.

Additionally, funds are allocated to address Diminishing Manufacturing Sources (DMS), which involves managing parts obsolescence, conducting life-of-type buys, and implementing necessary redesigns to maintain production and operational readiness.

Support and Sustainment are key objectives within the F-35 program. The FY 2026 budget includes funding for ground support equipment (airframe, engine, and avionics), training devices, and the transition from the legacy Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS) to the modern Operational Data Integrated Network (ODIN). This transition aims to improve logistics, maintenance, and mission planning capabilities.

The budget also supports depot activation and expansion, increasing repair capacity and ensuring long-term sustainment of the F-35 fleet. This includes establishing depot repair capabilities for both airframe and propulsion components, as well as enhancing cyber compliance and support equipment for modification docks.

Advance Procurement is a significant component of the F-35 budget line. The FY 2026 request includes advance procurement of long-lead materials and components for both airframes and engines, as well as the APG-85 radar system. Advance procurement is essential for maintaining production schedules and mitigating supply chain risks, particularly for items with extended manufacturing lead times. The APG-85 radar, which will replace the APG-81 in U.S. F-35s, requires a two-phase advance procurement strategy to ensure timely integration into production aircraft.

The cost structure of the F-35 program reflects both recurring and non-recurring expenses. Recurring costs include the production of airframes, electronics, and engines, while non-recurring costs cover tooling, engineering changes, and ancillary equipment necessary for delivering fully mission-capable aircraft. Ancillary equipment costs are driven by pilot throughput and include items such as helmet-mounted displays, pilot flight equipment, and mission-specific hardware.

The program also funds the procurement and fielding of next-generation mission planning environments, technical data provisioning, and integrated logistics support to ensure operational effectiveness and readiness.

Production and Contracting for the F-35A is managed through sole-source contracts with Lockheed Martin for airframes and Pratt & Whitney for engines. Production capacity is influenced by total F-35 quantities, including partner and foreign military sales. The program aims to optimize manufacturing processes, resolve technical issues, and maintain product quality through production engineering support and Joint Program Office (JPO) oversight.

Fixed JPO support costs are shared across U.S. and partner participants, covering program operations, administrative requirements, and oversight functions.