Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth operation has secured three new deals—a major new contract and two key modifications—worth over $5 billion, reinforcing its dominance in the aerospace industry and its role as a major economic force in Dallas-Fort Worth. The agreements, focused on the F-35 Lightning II, coincide with Lockheed Martin’s recent rollout of Poland’s first F-35A fighter jet.

The largest contract, a $3.91 billion deal for F-35 training systems, covers design, development, and deployment across the U.S. military and international partners. About 30% of this work will be handled in Fort Worth, with the bulk occurring in Orlando, Florida.

An additional $1.01 billion contract modification extends support for F-35 engineering, maintenance, and logistics, with Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth site handling a significant share of this work. Another $194.26 million modification boosts Lockheed’s capacity to activate and repair F-35 depots, with Fort Worth responsible for 32% of the project.

Dallas-Fort Worth: ‘No. 1 in aerospace in the U.S.’

Lockheed Martin, one of the largest employers in Dallas-Fort Worth, is part of an established aerospace ecosystem with about 675 companies contributing to approximately 95,000 area jobs, according to the Dallas Regional Chamber, which notes that DFW has been cited as No. 1 in aerospace in the U.S. by Conway. The region, which boasts Texas’s largest concentration of aerospace manufacturing workers per the Texas Governor’s Office, captured 36% of the national aerospace manufacturing award volume in 2023, Bisnow reported earlier this year.

Lockheed Martin debuts Poland’s first F-35A in Fort Worth

This week, Lockheed Martin unveiled Poland’s first F-35A fighter jet at a ceremony at its Fort Worth assembly plant, marking a milestone for the Polish Air Force and strengthening ties between the U.S. and Poland, a key NATO ally. Senior government and military leaders from Poland and the United States attended the ceremony to celebrate the first of Poland’s 32 F-35As.

“Over more than 100 years of the Polish Air Force, there have been many generations of pilots and aircraft,” Major General Ireneusz Nowak, inspector of the Polish Air Force, said in a statement. “I’m proud to be part of history today, introducing the F-35 as the next generation, which will protect and defend Poland’s future for many years. We’re joining a strong coalition of fifth generation fighters across Europe, bolstering air superiority through allied deterrence.”

F-35 program strengthens global defense

The F-35, picked by NATO for its advanced capabilities, “will help extend Poland’s strong leadership in NATO through investment in military modernization and enhanced participation in foreign missions,” Lockheed Martin said in a news release. According to the defense giant, Poland’s F-35s—called “Husarz” in a nod to the country’s famed winged cavalry known for their speed and striking presence—will improve coordination and awareness for Poland and its European partners.

“As the NATO aircraft of choice, the F-35 is a powerful force multiplier and critical to deterring and defeating threats for Poland and its allies,” Greg Ulmer, president of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, said in a statement. “We’re honored to strengthen our enduring partnership with Poland through today’s celebration, ensuring Polish national security and long-term capability development for decades to come.”

Lockheed Martin said the first of Poland’s 32 F-35As will be delivered in December and based at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas, where Poland will be the first international customer to conduct F-35 pilot training.

Per Lockheed, F-35s are now operating from 32 bases worldwide. To date, Lockheed Martin has delivered over 1,000 F-35s, trained over 2,540 pilots and 16,690 maintainers, and the F-35 fleet has surpassed 889,000 cumulative flight hours. Lockheed Martin continues to work alongside F-35 operators to ensure allies remain ahead of the evolving threat.

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