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Pentagon: F‑35 Record Year Masks Two‑Year Delivery Backlog

The Pentagon says the 191 F‑35s it accepted last year — a program record — include slightly less than half that should have been delivered about two years earlier. That suggests recent handovers are clearing a backlog, not reflecting on‑time production, with consequences for readiness and budgeting.

Discovered 2026-01-27T15:58:51.929311-08:00 | 2026-01-27T15:58:51.929311-08:00

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The US accepted 191 F‑35s last year, but Pentagon data show slightly less than half were delayed by about two years — a delivery surge that is largely backlog clearance rather than on‑schedule output; see Lockheed’s recent delivery plans and programme ramp-up (source:9c22ec69-9075-4e02-b5e1-3045658cf34f) and broader fighter backlogs (source:ea73c3e4-a5d4-42aa-8624-c1004a0b4b9d).
Multi‑year delivery slips heighten program oversight, accounting and budgetary risks and complicate supplier planning and readiness; connect this to the Pentagon’s recent audit/restatement issues (source:c75a8289-7398-4aee-ac26-19d6e4110902) and Lockheed’s decision to hold production rates steady to stabilise suppliers (source:eddd60b3-78e2-4bc9-a8d7-ee5ebd8d00a8).

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Aviation Week defence-industry.eu FlightGlobal realcleardefense.com Simple Flying Bloomberg