US Air Force, Navy Plan to Boost F-35 Fleet After Record Budget

The Air Force and Navy proposed stepping up purchases of of Lockheed Martin Corp’s F-35 fighter jet over the next five years, a show of confidence for a plane that Elon Musk and other critics argue is becoming obsolete.

Planned purchases of the Air Force model would increase from 38 jets next year to 42 in fiscal 2028, 46 in 2029 and 48 in both 2030 and 2031, according to projections released Friday.

Navy and Marine Corps purchases would see an increase to 47 jets next year from this year’s 23. The Navy and Marine Corps plan to purchase ...