Lockheed Martin, despite losing out to Boeing in the bidding process and failing to secure the contract for the U.S. sixth-generation fighter jet F-47, has plans to produce a “super” F-35 fighter jet that can rival the capabilities of the F-47, known as the “fifth-generation plus” fighter.
The F-35 Lightning II is the latest fifth-generation fighter in the United States. It is a supersonic multi-role combat aircraft designed to meet the ever-evolving security needs of the U.S. military and its allies, with fleets stationed in 48 bases worldwide.
During the first-quarter earnings conference call on Tuesday, Lockheed Martin CEO James Taiclet set a new goal for employees: to enhance the performance of the F-35 so that it can achieve 80% of the capabilities of the F-47 at half the cost.
“I challenged my aeronautics team to achieve 80% of the performance of a sixth-generation fighter at half the price,” Taiclet said. “That’s what we’re about to try to do – these are engineers, and if they don’t believe they can get there, they won’t commit to it.”
Taiclet referred to the upgraded F-35 as “fifth-generation plus,” with plans to leverage the technologies developed for the sixth-generation fighter bid to achieve this goal.
While Lockheed Martin lost the bid for the sixth-generation fighter to Boeing, President Trump announced in March that the F-47 would be the most advanced, powerful, and lethal aircraft ever.
The bid outcome was a significant victory for Boeing but a setback for Lockheed Martin. The company aims not to fall behind but to utilize the technologies developed during the bidding process to offer a low-cost alternative for the future F-47 in the form of the super F-35. This move will enable Lockheed to continue competing with Boeing.
Lockheed Martin has manufactured the fifth-generation fighter jets F-22 and F-35 for the U.S. The F-22 Raptor is the world’s first operational fifth-generation and stealth fighter jet.
Taiclet likened the bold plan to create the super F-35 to transforming a regular car into a race car. “We’re essentially turning the chassis into a Ferrari. It’s like NASCAR upgrades,” he said. “We’ve developed some technologies and capabilities for the next-generation fighter bid, and now we can apply them here.”
Taiclet explained that Lockheed Martin has been focused on developing better sensors and stealth technology for its sixth-generation fighter bid, which can be used to enhance the F-35. He also mentioned updated tracking systems and weapons with longer ranges.
The idea is to minimize aerial combat as much as possible. “As I like to say, we want to kill the adversary before they even know we’re there,” he said.
Boeing’s F-47 aims to be the most advanced stealth fighter jet in the U.S. to date, primarily focused on attaining air superiority and destroying enemy aircraft as a key mission.
If Taiclet’s ambitious upgrade plan succeeds, Lockheed’s mature F-35 platform and significant global market share could provide a decisive advantage.
“I believe by adopting the F-35 platform and applying numerous advanced technologies, we can achieve 80% of its potential capabilities at 50% of the cost per aircraft,” Taiclet stated.
Compared to the future F-47, the advantage of the F-35 lies in its established success. Lockheed Martin has produced hundreds of F-35s for the U.S. and its allies, demonstrating many excellent qualities. The infrastructure is in place to ensure continuous large-scale production. On the other hand, the F-47 is a new aircraft that will require significant time and funding before industrial readiness for mass production.
Taiclet indicated that there are around 1,100 F-35 jets globally, with an expected increase to 3,500 in the future. Lockheed CFO Evan Scott stated that the company is set to deliver 170 to 190 F-35s in 2025, with an order backlog of 350 jets currently.
Lockheed Martin is confident that the “super F-35” is what the company needs to stay competitive. The upgraded F-35 may offer Lockheed the best chance to recover from the failed F-47 contract bid.
Currently, the cost of the F-47 remains unknown. Some estimates suggest a price of around $300 million per aircraft. The cost of an F-35A is approximately $88 million, while other variants can reach up to $100 million. Lockheed has yet to disclose the price of the new “super F-35,” but some experts anticipate a price around $150 million or even higher.
Lockheed Martin faces a tough battle. Integrating sixth-generation technology into a fifth-generation airframe requires significant time and resources. However, if the “super F-35” can change the game, it may become a viable alternative to the F-47.
(Adapted from reports by “Business Insider” and “19FortyFive” from the U.S. Defense and Security Network.)