US Air Force plans 544 F‑35A fighters for 2026, with 25 new jets fielded
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The Pentagon’s Selected Acquisition Report shows the US Air Force intends to have 544 F‑35A aircraft in 2026, with 25 new jets fielded and three expected losses that year.
The service received its 500th F‑35A on 9 July 2025 at the Florida Air National Guard’s 125th Fighter Wing at Jacksonville International Airport, making Jacksonville the fourth Air National Guard wing to operate the jet after units in Vermont, Wisconsin and Alabama; the CRS counted 412 F‑35As in mid‑2024, indicating a growth of roughly 130 aircraft over two years.