Rep. Rutherford: The F-35 Lightning II is more than a plane

Our Northeast Florida community is proud that the 125th Fighter Wing at Jacksonville Air National Guard Base hosts our nation’s battle-proven stealth fighter: the F-35 Lightning II. While we see these incredible fighter jets in our skies regularly, we may not fully appreciate just how vital this state-of-the-art aircraft is to our national security as well as our local and state economy.

The F-35 is not just another military aircraft — it is the cornerstone of America’s air dominance and is designed to remain so for decades to come. At a time when global threats are evolving rapidly, maintaining a technological edge is essential, and the F-35 provides that edge.

Its advanced stealth capabilities, unmatched situational awareness and ability to integrate seamlessly with allied forces ensures that our service members operate with superiority, even in the most contested environments as we have seen sortie after sortie in the Middle East.

At the international level, the F-35 represents one of the most successful defense partnerships in history. Our allies rely on this platform made possible by American ingenuity. We enhance collective security and deterrence by strengthening those partnerships. Unity and capability send a powerful message to a world where adversaries are watching closely.

Simply put, the F-35 keeps America safe.

The importance of the F-35 extends far beyond the battlefield. Here in Northeast Florida, we understand that national security and economic strength go hand in hand. The F-35 and its associated supply chain are a vital economic asset to our regional community and the state of Florida.

Our metro area plays a critical role in the F-35 enterprise, serving as a hub for training, operations, maintenance and defense-related innovation. The F-35 program supports thousands of high-quality careers, including pilots, maintainers, engineers and skilled tradespeople.

These are well-paid positions that sustain families, strengthen our local tax base, and drive long-term economic stability in our communities.

Just a few days ago, I had the opportunity to welcome companies from our area, as well as others from around the state, to Washington, D.C., to hear firsthand about the work they do to help build and support the F-35. Many of them are small and veteran-owned businesses.

These suppliers proudly talk about the F-35’s whopping $23 billion annual economic impact in Florida, which is a hefty piece of the program’s estimated $79 billion impact nationally. They tell me how the program supports hundreds of thousands of jobs nationwide, including more than 30,000 in Florida.

It is inspiring to listen to small businesses describe the moms and dads who work hard every day to produce critical components for the F-35 and the pride they feel when they see how effective the F-35 is in combat. Their stories truly demonstrate how important the F-35 is to Florida’s economy.

We also heard from veteran-owned machine shops that bring a culture of discipline and quality that aligns closely with military standards. The F-35 is as much a data platform as it is an aircraft, so cybersecurity is mission-critical.

We heard from IT firms (many founded by former service members) about how they support network protection, software integration and data management. In addition, we heard from small companies that develop training modules, provide instructors and maintain simulation equipment.

Their message was clear: When we invest in programs like the F-35, we are also sustaining small businesses, creating the companies and careers of tomorrow and investing in the future of Florida’s workforce and its global competitiveness.

Of course, with any major defense program, we must remain vigilant stewards of taxpayer dollars. Accountability, transparency and efficiency are essential, but we must also recognize the cost of falling behind. The price of failing to invest in our defense — both in terms of security and economic opportunity — is far greater.

The F-35 Lightning II is more than a plane. It is a symbol of American innovation, a pillar of our national defense, and an engine of economic growth for communities like ours in Northeast Florida. Supporting this program means supporting our troops, our workers and our future.