Swiss F-35A Production Advances Amid Reassessed Fleet Size

The Swiss government has confirmed that production of the F-35A aircraft is progressing at Lockheed Martin's facility in Marietta, Georgia. The first eight aircraft are being manufactured for pilot training purposes and will be delivered to Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas from mid-2027.

Main assembly of the first Swiss-configured F-35A has begun at the Marietta facility, marking a significant milestone in the production process. The remaining 28 aircraft were originally scheduled to be produced at Leonardo's Cameri plant in Italy, but Switzerland is reassessing the final fleet size due to higher program costs.

The Swiss government has proposed an additional 394 million Swiss francs to absorb certain cost increases and allow Switzerland to establish the final production quantity with the U.S. government by the second quarter of 2027. This funding decision will impact the number of F-35As that Switzerland ultimately receives, which was originally planned to be 36 aircraft.