US Plans to Cut 2026 F-35 Orders

The United States plans to scale back its purchase of F-35 fighter jets for the U.S. Air Force in 2026, according to a report by Bloomberg.

Under the revised plan, the Air Force would receive 24 F-35A aircraft, down from the previously planned 48.

Similar cuts are expected for the Navy and Marine Corps, with orders for the Navy dropping from 17 to 12 aircraft, and for the Marine Corps from 13 to 11.

The Air Force procurement is budgeted at $3.5 billion, with an additional $531 million allocated for advance procurement of materials.

For the Navy’s F-35 carrier-based variant, the Pentagon plans to request $1.95 billion for 12 aircraft and $401.5 million in advance procurement. The Marine Corps is expected to seek $1.78 billion for 11 jets, plus $113.7 million for advance purchases.

The cuts are part of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s plan to reduce overall U.S. military spending by 8% over the next five years. While the proposal still requires congressional approval, it signals a shift in defense budget priorities.

F-35 is the most expensive weapons system in U.S. history. The Air Force remains its largest customer. The total program cost is estimated at roughly $2 trillion — $485 billion for development and production of more than 2,400 aircraft, and $1.5 trillion for operations and maintenance over the program’s lifespan.

So far, the Pentagon has signed contracts for 967 F-35s, with 747 already delivered. Further funding is expected to support additional purchases to replace aging F-16 and AV-8 aircraft and complement other airframes.

The F-35 program has drawn criticism from the Trump administration and figures like Elon Musk, who have called it “a jack of all trades, master of none,” and questioned its relevance in an era dominated by unmanned systems.

Defense Secretary Hegseth has also expressed skepticism about the long-term viability of manned fighter aircraft, highlighting the potential of autonomous systems and emerging drone manufacturers in the U.S. defense sector.

Industry experts note that while drone development is critical, it should not come at the expense of manned aircraft, which still play a key role in force projection, air defense, strike missions, and reconnaissance.