US maintains strong fighter jet production despite industry shifts

Mike Shoemaker of Lockheed Martin expressed optimism about the future of their programs: “I’m very bullish on the programme [and] of its bright future. We’re committed, from a Lockheed perspective, to be a life cycle partner with all of these customers coming on.”

Tom Altamuro from Boeing highlighted improvements in factory performance: “Factory performance has been improving in recent months, with rework and traveled work rates decreasing month over month.”

The US Navy's plans for a next-generation carrier-based combat jet have been put on hold as resources shift towards developing the Air Force's sixth-generation stealth fighter.

Mark Sears from Boeing noted that international campaigns for additional Super Hornets have not been successful: “We ran a number of international campaigns or competitions that we were unsuccessful in previous years."

Overall, while some lines are winding down, both Boeing and Lockheed Martin continue to play significant roles in maintaining America's air dominance through ongoing production and development efforts.