U.S. Military Plans to Increase F-35 Purchases
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Apr 24 2026
0mins
Should l Buy LMT?
Source: seekingalpha
- Increased Procurement Plans: The U.S. Air Force and Navy plan to steadily increase purchases of Lockheed Martin's (LMT) F-35 fighter jets over the next five years, with Air Force orders projected to rise from 38 jets in FY 2027 to 48 jets by 2031, indicating confidence in the aircraft despite criticism of obsolescence.
- Navy Purchase Surge: The Navy and Marine Corps are set to boost their procurement from 23 jets this year to 47 next year, although projections suggest a decline to 38 or fewer jets annually from 2029 to 2031, reflecting varying expectations of future military needs.
- Defense Budget Request: This procurement plan is part of the Trump administration's request to Congress to increase the defense budget by over 40% to $1.5 trillion, which is likely to face resistance from both Democrats and fiscal conservatives, highlighting the political complexities surrounding defense spending.
- Stock Performance Decline: Despite the increase in planned purchases, Lockheed Martin's stock has fallen 17.1% over the past nine sessions, with a further 3.1% drop on Friday to $513.45, marking its lowest close since January 7, indicating market concerns about the company's outlook.
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Analyst Views on LMT
Wall Street analysts forecast LMT stock price to rise
12 Analyst Rating
4 Buy
7 Hold
1 Sell
Hold
Current: 528.310
Low
430.00
Averages
535.50
High
605.00
Current: 528.310
Low
430.00
Averages
535.50
High
605.00
About LMT
Lockheed Martin Corporation is an aerospace and defense technology company. The Company's segments include Aeronautics, Missiles and Fire Control (MFC), Rotary and Mission Systems (RMS) and Space. The Aeronautics segment is engaged in research, design, development, manufacture, integration, sustainment, support and upgrade of advanced military aircraft, including combat and air mobility aircraft, unmanned air vehicles and related technologies. The MFC segment provides air and missile defense systems; tactical missiles and precision strike weapon systems; logistics; fire control systems; engineering support and integration services. The RMS segment designs, manufactures, services and supports various military and commercial helicopters, sea and land-based missile defense systems. The Space segment is engaged in the research and design, development, engineering and production of satellites, space transportation systems, and strategic, advanced strike, and defensive systems.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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