Lockheed Martin has received more than $1 billion in defense contracts for fighter aircraft production, missile systems, and military support equipment, as demand for defense manufacturing continues to grow amid the ongoing conflict with Iran.
The largest award is an $879 million contract issued in May to Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. for armament equipment associated with F-35 Lightning II fighter jets. The agreement, awarded by the Naval Air Systems Command, covers the production and delivery of missile launchers, bomb racks, gun systems, pylons, and adapters intended to support aircraft readiness and delivery schedules.
The work will be performed in Fort Worth, where F-35 aircraft are assembled at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth. The jets are scheduled for delivery to the U.S. Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, as well as foreign military customers and other program participants. The contract is expected to run through February 2030.
Funding for the agreement includes $207 million from the Navy, $199 million from the Air Force, $333.6 million from foreign allies, and $139.1 million from non-defense customers. Approximately $157.3 million is scheduled to expire at the end of the 2026 fiscal year.
The contract replaces a previous agreement and supports continued production of the next-generation fighter aircraft that remains a cornerstone of U.S. and allied military operations.
Lockheed Martin has also moved to increase munitions production capacity. On May 21, company officials broke ground on a new production center in Troy, Alabama, as part of a broader effort to expand missile manufacturing.
Lockheed Martin said it intends to spend more than $9 billion by the end of the decade to expand its manufacturing footprint by more than 87,000 square feet. Company officials said the growth initiative is expected to create roughly 4,000 jobs over the next three years. The new production center is part of a broader network of more than 20 facilities that contribute to the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, a missile defense program designed to intercept and destroy ballistic missile threats.
Lockheed Martin Chairman, President, and CEO Jim Taiclet said the company is prepared to respond to growing defense demands.
“We have already invested well over a billion dollars in this expansion, which directly strengthens deterrence and helps ensure our service members and allies have the capabilities they need when they need them,” Taiclet said in a statement.
Michael Duffey, identified as under secretary of war, described the partnership as “critical to surging our munitions capacity, and Lockheed Martin has leaned in aggressively,” according to the Fort Worth Report.
Company officials said Lockheed Martin was the first defense contractor to accelerate production to quadruple manufacturing capacity for the PAC-3 MSE interceptor missile. The company’s THAAD operations span more than 340,000 square feet across nine states and rely on nearly 750 suppliers in 42 states.
Efforts to increase production were also discussed during a recent supplier conference in Dallas, where approximately 150 Lockheed Martin suppliers met with defense officials to explore ways to speed munitions deliveries. Company officials said the discussions were successful and will continue monthly.
In addition to the F-35 armament contract, Lockheed Martin received several other defense awards in May.
On May 26, the company received a $14.3 million contract modification for engineering services related to all production variants of the Multiple Launch Rocket System. The modification increased the contract’s total value to nearly $230 million. Work will be carried out in Grand Prairie through May 2027.
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics also received a $100.4 million contract for 1,459 brake assembly heat sinks used on F-35A and F-35B aircraft. According to the contract announcement, the effort is intended to support thermal management systems, maintain avionics reliability and meet operational requirements for U.S. forces and allied partners.
The brake component work will be performed in South Bend, Indiana, and is expected to continue through March 2030. Funding includes contributions from the Air Force, Navy, foreign military customers, and F-35 program partners.
Earlier in May, the company secured a separate $17.4 million contract modification for spare parts provisioning connected to an unnamed foreign partner. That work will be conducted in Fort Worth and is expected to be completed by May 2027.
The latest awards further strengthen Fort Worth’s role as a major center for aerospace and defense manufacturing, with the city continuing to serve as the headquarters of Lockheed Martin’s aeronautics division and the primary production site for the F-35 program.
