The Fort Worth Chamber is urging our lawmakers to fully support the F-35 Lightning II program in the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This critical authorization bill determines the scope of funding for defense and military programs in the upcoming year.

The F-35 program is our nation’s most advanced and connected fighter jet in production today. Fort Worth is proud to be home to the production of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 aircraft as it strengthens our allies around the world and contributes to the livelihoods of thousands of people through its economic impact.

Fort Worth plays a leading role in the F-35 program, which is a key driver to the local, state, and national economy – contributing $9.9 billion in economic impact and creating more than 49,000 jobs statewide. Locally, it delivers over $7 billion in economic benefit and supports more than 30,400 jobs in the Fort Worth region through a network of 60 small to mid-sized businesses.

The F-35 program bolsters our national defense capabilities while strengthening our allies around the globe. Equipping our allies with this highly advanced fighter jet gives them the air power they need to deter and respond to common threats to freedom, while keeping our men and women in uniform safe. With more than 1,200 aircraft in service and over one million flight hours flown, the F-35 has a proven global track record of performance and reliability.

At a time when geopolitical tensions continue to escalate, ensuring strong support from our lawmakers for the F-35 program is vital to maintaining global security and air dominance.

To read the full letter sent to Senators Cruz and Cornyn, click here.