Driven in part by conflicts in Ukraine and the Persian Gulf, Lockheed Martin’s North Texas operations are flying high.

The defense and aviation contractor recently rolled out Germany’s first F-35A fighter jet at its Fort Worth plant. In addition, its Grand Prairie-based missile program recently achieved two milestones. Lockheed Martin employs roughly 22,800 people in North Texas.

New military era in Germany

Last week, Lockheed Martin officials celebrated the completion of Germany’s first F-35A Lightning II in Fort Worth — also home to the company’s aeronautics business — alongside German government and military leaders. Officials said the advanced fighter will strengthen NATO’s defense capabilities.

“The F-35 is more than a fighter aircraft. It is a strategic capability that enables allies to operate together, adapt faster and stay ahead of emerging threats,” OJ Sanchez, president of aeronautics at Lockheed Martin, said in a statement. “As Germany prepares to take ownership of its first F-35A, we are proud to build on more than 50 years of partnership and deliver a capability that will strengthen European security and support the Luftwaffe for decades to come.”

Germany ordered 35 stealth F-35As from Lockheed Martin in an $8.8 billion deal signed in 2022. Later this fall, the first eight aircraft will be delivered to Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, Arkansas. There, German pilots will undergo flight training. Lockheed said fighter jets should start arriving in Germany before the end of 2027.

The 35 jets will replace Germany’s aging fleet of Panavia Tornado fighter-bombers.

Lockheed worked with German companies on the country’s F-35 order and said it will explore more partnerships in Germany.

Germany joins 19 other nations, including Belgium and Poland, that already operate F-35 fighter jets. Several other European nations are acquiring F-35s, Lockheed Martin said.

In May, the Navy awarded Lockheed Martin more than $879 million to support F-35 deliveries.

‘World’s most advanced combat aircraft’

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said Germany’s first fighter jets would be delivered later this year. Germany expects them to be fully operational in 2029.

“This is the beginning of a new era for the German Air Force: The new F-35A fighter jet is the world’s most advanced combat aircraft,” Pistorius said in a statement. “It is characterized by its stealth capabilities, close integration with other platforms and exceptionally powerful sensor technology. The F-35A can gather vast amounts of data and rapidly synthesize them into a comprehensive operational picture.”

Advanced long-range missiles

Lockheed Martin also recently made headway in its Grand Prairie-based missile business.

Lockheed Martin launches PrSM Increment 2 during an August flight test. [Photo: U.S. Army]

This week, Lockheed said the Army awarded a contract worth up to $1.2 billion for the Increment 2 Precision Strike Missile, developed in Grand Prairie and produced in Camden, Arkansas. The U.S. used the missile’s previous version for combat missions in Iran.

“We’re ready to move from flight testing into production and provide the Army with an expanded long-range precision fires capability,” Dave Griser, vice president of Lockheed Martin’s Precision Fires Launchers and Missile business, said in a statement.

The new contract adds to a $4.9 billion Army contract awarded last year and an $8.4 billion contract increase approved this year.

Lockheed said the Increment 2 Precision Strike Missile completed its first test flight in March and its second in August. Additional test flights are scheduled for 2027.

‘Extraordinary 22-day turnaround’

In another milestone, Lockheed Martin received the first delivery of components GM Defense produced for the PAC-3 MSE interceptor. The delivery came less than one month after the two companies signed the component contract.

“This extraordinary 22‑day turnaround underscores Lockheed Martin’s relentless focus on execution — delivering for our troops faster, with greater capacity,” Tim Cahill, president of Lockheed Martin’s Missiles and Fire Control business, said in a statement.

Lockheed Martin’s new Rapid Fielding Center played a role in the speedy delivery. The defense contractor opened the center in March at its Grand Prairie campus.

The company said the center enables it to quickly develop and produce missiles for the U.S., “setting a new industry standard for speed to field as the country builds the ‘Arsenal of Freedom.’”

To help build that “Arsenal of Freedom,” Lockheed Martin said it is investing $8 billion to $9 billion to expand munitions production. The initiative includes adding jobs and buildings at more than 20 sites, including the Grand Prairie campus.