Lockheed Martin To Miss F-35 Delivery Target In 2020 Due To Supply Chain Problems

From the factory floor, Lockheed Martin employees work on the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter production line in Fort Worth, Texas. (Defense Contract Management Agency)

Defense News: Lockheed slated to miss F-35 delivery target in 2020 as supply chain struggles to keep up

WASHINGTON — Lockheed Martin will throttle back the pace of F-35 production on May 23, leaving it anywhere from 18 to 24 jets short of the 141 scheduled for delivery this year.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made it more difficult for Lockheed’s supply chain to make components on time, and as a result the company is moving to an adjusted work schedule where production will slow over the next three months, said Greg Ulmer, Lockheed’s vice president for the F-35 program.

Ultimately, Lockheed aims to accelerate production as soon as possible and hopes to decrease the number of aircraft that will delivered late. However, Ulmer said there are too many variables to say precisely how long buyers will be left waiting for their F-35s.

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More News On Lockheed Martin To Miss F-35 Delivery Target In 2020

Coronavirus could delay delivery of up to 24 F-35 fighter jets -- Business Insider/Reuters
Lockheed Martin F-35 to miss 2020 production target due to coronavirus-caused parts shortage -- Flight Global
Lockheed Slowing F-35 Production Amid Covid-Related Parts Delays -- Bloomberg
Lockheed Martin Forced to Make Sharp Cutbacks to F-35 Production Due to Parts Shortages -- Sputnik