Record F-35 deliveries muscle up American allies in the Asia-Pacific region

South China Morning PostCenter-RightEN 1 min read 100% complete by Seong Hyeon ChoiFebruary 4, 2026 at 06:32 AM

AI Summary

short article 1 min

Lockheed Martin anticipates approximately 300 F-35 fighter jets will be operational in the Asia-Pacific region by 2035. This projection, announced at the Singapore Airshow, highlights the increasing presence of the fifth-generation aircraft among U.S. allies in the area. The build-up is driven by a perceived increase in regional threats and the interoperability the F-35 provides. Key U.S. allies operating the F-35 include Australia, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea, with Japan projected to become the second-largest operator globally after the United States. These countries have ordered both conventional and vertical landing variants of the aircraft. The expansion of the F-35 fleet coincides with China's own growing fifth-generation fighter capabilities.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Tokyo 35% South Korea ×240% Singapore ×245% Japan ×250% Australia ×255% United States ×360% China 65% Singapore Airshow ×270% Steve Sheehy ×375% Asia-Pacific ×280% F-35 ×685% Lockheed Martin ×290%

Keywords

f-35 fighter jet 100% asia-pacific 90% us allies 80% fifth-generation fighter 70% military 70% interoperability 60% lockheed martin 60% singapore airshow 50% regional threat 50%