F-35 Achieves Historic Milestone: Over 1 Million Flight Hours in the Skies!

Today, Lockheed Martin announced that the global F-35 fleet has surpassed 1 million flight hours, providing further proof of the program’s scale and success in maintaining aerial dominance for America’s service members and our allied nations worldwide. 

“Reaching 1 million flight hours is an extraordinary milestone for the F-35 initiative. It highlights the unwavering dedication of our pilots, technicians, industry partners, and our international allies as well as military sales clients,” expressed Lt. Gen. Michael Schmidt, Program Executive Officer for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office. “This achievement is not just a testament to the F-35’s unparalleled capabilities, but also to the resolve and commitment of everyone involved in this effort. As we continue to grow the fleet and enhance the F-35’s features, we ensure that today’s and tomorrow’s warfighters possess the most advanced, reliable, and effective asset to protect our nations.” 

During the 1 million hours flown, the F-35 team has significantly advanced the functionalities of the F-35 and reached numerous historic aviation achievements with the world’s most state-of-the-art combat aircraft.  

“The F-35 is the backbone of the allied forces, promoting peace through strength in the 21st century,” remarked Chauncey McIntosh, vice president and general manager of the F-35 Lightning II program at Lockheed Martin. “As we look toward the future, we remain committed to continually upgrading the capabilities of the F-35 to ensure we stay ahead of emerging threats.” 

The 1 million flight hours encompass combat missions that are now being carried out by all F-35 variants, particularly following the F-35C’s first operational deployment in combat in November 2024, effectively neutralizing targets in contested airspace.

The F-35 team is now focused on the next 1 million hours to be logged by the growing global fleet of over 1,100 aircraft, ensuring the F-35 maintains its role in aerial dominance and continues to be the foundation of air superiority while collaborating with various 4th, 5th, and next-gen platforms. This also includes the capability to control unmanned aerial vehicles, featuring the U.S. Air Force’s upcoming fleet of Collaborative Combat Aircraft. 

“Not only is it the world’s most advanced fighter jet, the F-35 also boosts the effectiveness of those operating it by integrating the battlespace, guaranteeing that the warfighters return safely,” McIntosh concluded.