Pentagon Slashes in Half Its Request for Air Force F-35s

A US Air Force F35A fighter jet.Photographer: Jason Alden/Bloomberg

The Air Force has cut in half its request to Congress for its signature F-35s, dealing a blow to Lockheed Martin Corp., the top US defense contractor.

A Defense Department procurement request document sent to Capitol Hill this week asked for 24 of the planes, down from 48 that was forecast last year.