Israel Aerospace Industries received two supplier awards from Lockheed Martin Aeronautics in mid-October 2026, recognizing its performance during 2025 on programs supporting F-16 and F-35 fighter jets. The honors covered separate categories in Lockheed Martin’s annual supplier recognition program.
The Mission Focused Award recognized IAI’s work on F-16 wings, vertical fins and conformal fuel tanks. Its F-35 wings program received the Ahead of Ready Award. Together, the awards acknowledged the Israeli company’s performance supplying components for both aircraft programs.
IAI has supplied Lockheed Martin with F-35 wings since 2014 and has delivered more than 350 wings. Its F-16 work includes several major aerostructures: wings, vertical fins and conformal fuel tanks. The fuel tank was jointly developed by IAI and Lockheed Martin, adding a development element to the companies’ manufacturing relationship.
According to an IAI statement, Lockheed Martin’s annual awards recognize suppliers for meeting its requirements across quality, delivery, operational performance and customer support. IAI described recognition in two categories as an acknowledgment of its work across the two fighter jet programs, with each award tied to a different set of components.
Yaacov Berkovitz, executive vice president and general manager of IAI’s Aviation Group, said teams from the two companies had worked alongside one another for years. He highlighted consistent quality, value, reliability and timely delivery as features of that cooperation. Berkovitz said their shared commitment helped them support critical programs and satisfy demanding requirements, describing trust as the basis of the relationship.
IAI President and CEO Guy Bar Levy placed the awards in the context of a partnership extending back nearly four decades. He said the relationship rested on mutual trust, technological cooperation and a common commitment to supporting important aerospace and defense programs.
Bar Levy also said the companies had collaborated over the years to respond to changing operational requirements and provide advanced capabilities to customers around the world. His comments emphasized the continuing cooperation between IAI and Lockheed Martin alongside the recognition of the supplier’s 2025 performance.
Kyle Franklin, vice president of Lockheed Martin’s Global Supply Chain, described receiving both awards as an outstanding achievement for IAI. He credited the recognition to the team’s hard work, dedication and commitment, praising the professionalism of those involved.
