Summary The US remains a key player among fighter jet producers, with four types in production, including the F-16, F-15EX, F/A-18, and F-35. While some F-16 lines for the US have closed, Lockheed maintains export orders. The F-16 is a popular choice worldwide.
The F-35 Lightning II is the primary US fighter jet, with different variants serving Air Force, Navy, and amphibious roles. The United States is one of the two top producers of fighter jets (the other being China, which produces a similar number ). The United States currently produces four types of fighter jets: the F-16 Fighting Falcon , the F-15EX Strike Eagle II , the F/A-18 Super Hornet (and Growler), and the F-35 Lightning II .
Many of these aircraft are produced for export (the F-16 is only produced for export). Two of the fighter jet production lines are expected to end in the next few years, leaving only the F-35 in production for the US military. F-16 Fighting Falcon - export only Lockheed Martin keeps its F-16 Fighting Falcon line open only for export (the US Air Force no longer procures the F-16).
The F-16 currently has a back order of around 124 jets (likely excluding a new 40-jet Turkish order), and it is estimated that foreign air forces around the world could order another 300 F-16s . The F-16 has been one of the most successful modern fighter jets and is the most common fighter jet in the world today. US fighter jets: Annual production: Note F-16 Block 70/72: 36 (planned 2024) Export only; planned to ramp up to 48 in 2025 F-15EX Strike Eagle II: 36 (approx.
) 107 ordered for US Air Force + foreign orders F-22 Raptor: 0 out of production F/A-18 / Growler: 24 (approx.) final order placed, ramping down to 18 per year, product line to close in 2027 F-35 Lightning II: 150 (approx.) All variants, includes those for export Total: 246 (approx.
) The F-16 has evolved considerably over its long life, with the most modern variant being the Block 70/72 (these are night and day superior to the original F-16s produced in the 1980s). While some air forces are now retiring their fleets of F-16s (like Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway), others (like Bulgaria and Slovakia) are just now upgrading to them. Some air forces (e.
g., Romania, Ukraine, and Argentina) are even now upgrading to second-hand F-16s. Around half a dozen Western fighter jets are in production today, with rates ranging from around 10 per year to over 150 annually.
F-15EX Strike Eagle & F/A-18 Super Hornet - the end of the road The F-22 Raptor was meant to replace the F-15 Eagle, but the F-22 was canceled early, forcing the Air Force to rely on the F-15. The latest (and final) variant of the F-15 is the F-15EX Strike Eagle II. It is possible that the Air Force has placed its final order for the jets (a number increased by the fiscal year 2025 budget - the number was previously capped at 98 jets).
The first F-15EXs are now entering service and are replacing legacy F-15C/Ds. Of the 104 on order, 7 have been delivered (plus another 50 F-15IA ordered by the Israeli Air Force). According to Air & Space Forces Magazine , F-15 production may end after these orders are fulfilled.
Country by fighter production: Quantity: Note: United States: 246 (approx.) F-16, F-15, F/A-18, F-35 China: 240+ J-10, J-16, J-20 (plus J-11s and J-15s) Russia: 28-49 Su-30, Su-35, Su-34, Su-57 (estimated for 2023) France: 20 Dassault Rafale (planned ramp up to 3 per month) United Kingdom: 10 Eurofighter Typhoon (jointly produced with Germany and Italy) The Navy has placed its final order for 17 F/A-18 extra Super Hornets in March 2024. Boeing had previously said it could close the production line in 2025, but this order will keep production going until 2027.
After that, Boeing is expected to move its workforce onto other programs, such as the F-15EX fighter, T-7A trainer, and MQ-25 refueling drone. Boeing is also expected to scale down production from the current 2 per month to 1.5 per month.
Russian combat aircraft production rates seem to be sufficient to sustain war losses at the rates so far seen. F-35 Lightning II - the mainstay The F-35 Lightning II is the main aircraft produced by the United States today. In some ways, it is three different jets, as its three variants (the F-35A, F-35B, and F-35C) are significantly different.
The F-35A is the land-based Air Force variant, the F-35B is the short take-off and vertical landing variant for amphibious assault ships and small foreign aircraft carriers, and the F-35C is mostly procured by the Navy for supercarriers. The F-35 was recently cleared for full-rate production, and it is being produced at a rate of around 150 jets (of all variants) a year. Lockheed is expected to produce 156 F-35 jets annually going forward (although many of these are for export).
Lockheed has now delivered over 1,000 fifth-generation F-35 jets (meaning there are more F-35s than all other fifth-generation fighters combined). Notably, the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider stealth bomber is now in low-rate production (but it is not counted as it is not a fighter). Many advanced drones like the Reaper and loyal wingman drones are being built or developed.
Additionally, the Air Force is working on developing its sixth-generation NGAD fighter and the Navy is working on its F/A-XX fighter. The F-35 may be the last mass-produced manned fighter jet built by the US, as future manned fighters are expected to be procured in relatively low numbers and as drones take over more and more of a fighter jet's role..
