As F-35 production increases, cost per fighter to drop
The F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter program’s goal of driving down costs is becoming a reality as the production of all three versions ramps up.
As the program reaches full production during the next couple of years, the cost per-jet is expected to drop below $100 million for all three versions, said Vice Adm. Mat Winter, director of the JSF program, during a presentation at Navy League’s Sea Air Space 2018 exposition.
The current batch of fighters rolling off the production line, referred to as Lot 10, has a price tag of $94 million per jet for the Air Force version and about $121 million per jet for the short takeoff and vertical landing version and the arrested landing versions to be used by the Marine Corps and Navy.
Winter’s staff is negotiating a contract for Lot 11 now. By 2020, according to Winter, the Pentagon and international customers are expected to start receiving jets from Lots 12, 13, and 14.
