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F-35 Agreement Helps Arizona

The U.S. Department of Defense and Lockheed Martin have finalized an $11.5 billion contract for the production and delivery of 141 F-35 aircraft at the lowest per aircraft price in program history.

This is big news for Arizona, as Luke Air Force Base in Goodyear and Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma are home to international training and operating bases for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.  The program has long been supported by Arizona’s elected officials on both sides of the aisle, and the late Senator John McCain played a pivotal role in bringing the next-generation fighter jet to Arizona.

The F-35 program helps Arizona’s economy by supporting over 7,000 jobs directly and indirectly, and some estimates have pegged the economic impact at over $600 million to our state.  Our state is also home to 29 businesses, both big and small, who are suppliers to the F-35. 


Congresswoman Debbie Lesko recently wrote an op-ed on importance of the F-35 that can be viewed here.