Lockheed Martin to boost job numbers in Fort Smith

Lockheed Martin, the Bethesda, Md.-based defense industry company that manufactures the F-35 fighter jet, said Thursday (June 25) it will boost employment in Fort Smith from an initial plan of 110 workers to more than 230 within the next 12 to 18 months.

The company is in Fort Smith to support the F-35 fighter jets at Ebbing Air National Guard Base co-located with the Fort Smith Regional Airport. Ebbing was selected in March 2023 by the U.S. Air Force to be the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program pilot training center supporting F-35 fighter planes purchased by Singapore, Poland, Finland, Germany, Switzerland, Czechia, Greece, and Romania. Planes from Poland and Finland were the first to train at Ebbing, with German pilots expected to arrive in late 2026.

The fifth-generation jets — with an average production cost of between $83 million and $110 million, according to published reports — are produced at Lockheed’s facility in Fort Worth, Texas.

According to Lockheed, the added employment increase “marks a key milestone in the continued development of Ebbing ANGB as a premier international F-35 training center …”

In a press release, the company noted that jobs will include F-35 aircraft mechanics, information technology specialists, logistics coordinators, and security personnel.

“This expansion reflects Lockheed Martin’s enduring commitment to supporting our customers’ missions and ensuring readiness through world-class sustainment and training solutions,” Heidi Moore, Lockheed Martin’s site lead, said in a statement. “Our team is proud to establish Ebbing as a trusted, premier F-35 training hub for Foreign Military Sales partners, delivering the reliability, affordability, and performance our customers expect.”

Tim Allen, president and CEO of the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce, said the Lockheed job expansion is a clear example of how the pilot training center is benefiting the region.

“This expansion by Lockheed Martin is a tremendous win for Fort Smith and the entire region,” Allen said. “The FMS Pilot Training Program is transformational for our community, bringing high-quality jobs, international investment, and long-term economic growth. Partnerships with world-class companies like Lockheed Martin, alongside the United States Air Force, demonstrate the strength of our workforce and the strategic importance of Ebbing ANGB on the global stage.”

According to job recruiter websites, the pay for aircraft maintenance technicians employed by civilian defense contractors ranges between $80,000 and $150,000. The 2024 median pay for aircraft and avionics equipment maintenance technicians was $79,140, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Recruiter firm Indeed lists the average base salary for an aircraft maintenance technician at just under $68,000. The average wage in Sebastian County, based on fourth quarter 2025 BLS weekly wage data, was $57,668.

Lockheed Martin, which has a missile production facility in Camden that employs more than 1,100, posted first quarter 2026 net income of $1.488 billion, below $1.712 billion in the same period of 2025. Revenue in the first quarter was $18.021 billion, above $17.963 billion in the same period of 2025. Net income in 2025 was $5.017 billion, below $5.33 billion in 2024.

Company shares (NYSE: LMT) opened Thursday at $495.95. During the past 52 weeks the share price has ranged between $410.11 and $692.