About This Trend
F-35 Lightning II is an advanced American family of single-seat, single-engine, supersonic stealth strike fighter aircraft manufactured by Lockheed Martin.
The F-35 is trending due to recent budget cuts and production delays. The Pentagon has slashed its request for F-35 jets by nearly half, reducing the planned purchase from 48 to 24 aircraft in 2026. Additionally, the program's costs have surged to approximately $2 trillion, with Canada's purchase of 88 F-35s now estimated at $28 billion, up from the initial $19 billion. These developments have sparked widespread discussion about the program's economic viability and strategic value.