Global F-35 Fleet Surpasses 1 Million Flight Hours

Lockheed Martin has announced a significant achievement for the global F-35 fleet, surpassing 1 million flight hours. This milestone underscores the scale, reliability, and capability of the F-35 Lightning II program in maintaining air dominance for the U.S. military and its allied forces worldwide.

Lt. Gen. Michael Schmidt, Program Executive Officer for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office, emphasized the importance of this accomplishment, attributing the success to the collective dedication of pilots, maintainers, industry partners, and international allies. The milestone highlights the proven operational effectiveness and resilience of the F-35 platform in diverse combat scenarios.

Chauncey McIntosh, Vice President and General Manager of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 program, further stressed that the fighter jet is crucial for ensuring peace through strength in the 21st century. As the global fleet, now exceeding 1,100 aircraft, continues to grow, Lockheed Martin remains committed to advancing the F-35’s capabilities, ensuring strategic superiority against emerging threats.

The 1 million flight-hour record includes extensive combat missions across all F-35 variants, notably marked by the recent deployment of the F-35C variant into contested airspace in November 2024. Looking forward, the program is focused on leveraging advanced integration capabilities, including controlling drones and coordinating closely with next-generation combat platforms.

Photo Credit: Lockheed Martin
Edited: Katerina Urbanova