F-35 Lightning II
Multinational fifth-generation fighter program (F-35A/B/C). Eaton's Aerospace segment supplies the hydraulic power generation system, hydraulic utility actuation sub-system, wing fluid delivery system, STOVL lift-fan lubrication system, and nose-wheel steering control across all three variants.
The F-35 is the Department of Defense's largest weapon system acquisition program, a multinational fifth-generation stealth fighter developed by Lockheed Martin with Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems for the US and eight international partner nations plus foreign military sales customers, fielded in three variants: the conventional F-35A (US Air Force and most international customers), the short takeoff/vertical landing F-35B (US Marine Corps, UK, Italy), and the carrier-based F-35C (US Navy). The program reached full-rate production in 2026 after roughly two decades in development; GAO now estimates total lifecycle cost (development, procurement, and sustainment of ~2,470 planned aircraft through 2088) at over $2 trillion.
Program detail
- Agency
- F-35 Joint Program Office / Lockheed Martin
- Acronym
- F-35
- Budget
- Phase
- Full-rate production (2026)
- Domain
- Fighter aircraft hydraulic power and actuation systems
Participants2
Frequently asked
- What is F-35 Lightning II?
- The F-35 is the Department of Defense's largest weapon system acquisition program, a multinational fifth-generation stealth fighter developed by Lockheed Martin with Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems for the US and eight international partner nations plus foreign military sales customers, fielded in three variants: the conventional F-35A (US Air Force and most international customers), the short takeoff/vertical landing F-35B (US Marine Corps, UK, Italy), and the carrier-based F-35C (US Navy). The program reached full-rate production in 2026 after roughly two decades in development; GAO now estimates total lifecycle cost (development, procurement, and sustainment of ~2,470 planned aircraft through 2088) at over $2 trillion.
- Which agency runs F-35 Lightning II?
- F-35 Lightning II is run by F-35 Joint Program Office / Lockheed Martin and is also known as F-35.
Sources & citations2
Each claim links to its underlying source. Confidence reflects how directly the source supports the claim.
- 1
Eaton supplies hydraulic power generation, actuation, and fluid-delivery systems for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter
Eaton: Eaton and the F-35 Joint Strike FighterVerified2026-08-02 - 2
GAO's current lifecycle cost estimate for the F-35 program (development, procurement, and sustainment of ~2,470 aircraft through 2088) now exceeds $2 trillion, with the program having reached full-rate production.
U.S. Government Accountability Office: The F-35 Will Now Exceed $2 Trillion As the Military Plans to Fly It LessVerified2026-08-08