Lockheed CEO Presents F-35 Enhancement as a Transition to F-47
F-35 "Ferrari" Upgrade: A Strategic Bridge to Next-Generation Air Dominance
Lockheed Martin is planning a significant upgrade for the F-35, aiming to incorporate approximately 80% of the sixth-generation NGAD (Next-Generation Air Dominance) technologies into the current fifth-generation F-35 airframe. The upgrade, referred to as the "F-35 Ferrari," will enhance the F-35's capabilities with advanced stealth, new weapons systems, and possibly unmanned piloting capabilities [1][2][3].
Lockheed Martin CEO Jim Taiclet introduced this upgrade after losing the NGAD contract to Boeing earlier in 2025, leading to the development of the F-47 fighter [2][3]. The upgrade serves as a strategic bridge to the future F-47, which may not be operational for up to a decade [3]. Taiclet expects the technological integration to be achieved within a two-to-three year timeframe for significant flight and systems integration milestones [4].
The F-35 Ferrari upgrade will incrementally deploy among the 3,500 existing airframes worldwide, enabling the U.S. Air Force and allies to maintain a competitive edge while transitioning towards sixth-generation aircraft [1][3].
Comparatively, the NGAD program, or the F-47 fighter, is a brand-new sixth-generation fighter design. It will feature full sixth-generation technologies, designed from scratch, with a timeline for first operational use around the late 2020s and likely a decade from now for full deployment [3][4]. The F-47 is expected to have a higher cost due to new design and development, while the F-35 Ferrari upgrade aims to be "half the cost" of developing a full new aircraft [1][3].
Deliveries of the F-35 were paused for a year into mid-2024 due to issues testing the Tech Refresh 3 upgrade, and the company reported a $1.6 billion loss in the second quarter, with the bulk of the losses coming from a classified Skunk Works project [5][6]. The government and Lockheed Martin have announced a handshake deal for Lots 18 and 19 of the F-35, but the contracts might not be finalized until the third quarter [7].
In the meantime, Congress is moving to add some jets back, with the House Appropriations Committee boosting its version of the spending plan to 69 aircraft, and the Senate Armed Services Committee at 57 aircraft [8]. The Pentagon cut back its F-35 purchase in the proposed 2026 budget to just 47 fighters across the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps [8].
Taiclet touted the air-to-air and air-to-ground performance of the F-35 in the recent strike on Iranian nuclear sites and called it combat proven [9]. The AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response weapon, the first proven hypersonic weapon capable of being launched from an American aircraft, is back in the Air Force budget, with $400 million requested for it [10].
This approach aligns with Lockheed Martin's strategic pivot after losing the NGAD contract to Boeing, underlining continued investment in the F-35 to remain indispensable in modern aerial warfare [1][3]. The F-35 Ferrari upgrade offers a pragmatic "bridge" solution leveraging a mature and combat-tested airframe, while the NGAD (F-47) represents a clean-sheet, next-gen platform with the highest capability potential.
- The F-35 Ferrari upgrade will incorporate advanced stealth, new weapons systems, and possibly unmanned piloting capabilities, signifying a strategic bridge to the future sixth-generation F-47 aircraft.
- The Pentagon, amid a possible reduction in F-35 purchases, may find the F-35 Ferrari upgrade appealing due to its integration of next-generation technology, enhancing military aircraft security and technology.
- With the F-47 fighter expected to have a higher cost due to new design and development, the F-35 Ferrari upgrade, aiming to be "half the cost" of developing a full new aircraft, could serve as a cost-effective solution for acquiring new capabilities in space and air warfare.
- As the F-47's first operational use is projected for the late 2020s, the F-35 Ferrari upgrade, with its incremental deployment among existing airframes, could provide Boeing and the US Air Force with a satellite of air dominance until the arrival of the new sixth-generation aircraft.
