The Pentagon has significantly reduced its request for Lockheed Martin F-35 jets for the US Air Force, submitting a procurement document to Congress this week that seeks funding for only 24 aircraft. This figure marks a sharp decline from the 48 jets projected in last year's forecast, as reported by Bloomberg News and cited by Reuters.
The Defense Department's decision to halve the order has not been accompanied by an official explanation, and neither Lockheed Martin nor the Pentagon responded to inquiries from Reuters outside regular business hours.
The report could not be independently verified by Reuters, leaving questions about the rationale behind the reduction unanswered. This development comes as Congress reviews the Pentagon's latest budget priorities, with potential implications for military readiness and defense contractor Lockheed Martin.
