Howmet Aerospace is a Tucson-based aerospace dynamics parts manufacturer founded in Pennsylvania, which supplies parts and materials for Lockheed Martin’s F-35 jets. The F-35 LII is an advanced fighter jet series first deployed in combat by Israel in 2018 against Syria and Lebanon, and later the same year by the U.S. against Afghanistan. Israel utilizes the F-35I Adir, equipped with custom warfare technology used to drop one-ton bombs in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran, making it crucial to the U.S.-funded Israeli genocide in Palestine. By making parts for Lockheed Martin’s F-35, Howmet Aerospace is complicit in the ongoing genocide in Palestine and war crimes across the Middle East. That is why we call for Howmet to cut their ties to genocide and end their contract with Lockheed Martin.
We recognize that Raytheon and other aerospace manufacturers contribute to this technology and genocide, as well. Lockheed Martin partners with 1,650 high-tech suppliers worldwide to manufacture and deliver their F-35s. The UK, Netherlands, US, Canada, Denmark, Turkey, Norway, and Australia all contribute to the F-35 manufacturing process.
The F-35 descends from Lockheed’s X-35 series, with the F-35A model costing $82.5 million, the F-35B costing $109 million, and the F-35C at $102.1 million, equaling a total cost of more than $2 trillion over two decades. The projected costs for sustaining the F-35s have continued to rise from $1.1 trillion in 2018 to $1.58 trillion just 5 years later (a 44% increase). The U.S. Air Force has ~630 F-35s in inventory, and Lockheed has delivered over 1,100 in total- but many are not operational.
Howmet Aerospace directly supplies primary materials to Lockheed Martin, such as titanium ingot, billet, sheet, and plate that are used in the frame and structure of the F-35 series. All* aerospace-authorized rivets, bolts, fasteners, and more that are bought, sold, and distributed in Tucson come from Howmet through Copper State Nut & Bolt Company, connected to buyers via the AMIGOS Mining & Industry Suppliers Trade Association which sponsors the Mining & Minerals Education Foundation. Howmet Aerospace is also a member of the Southern Arizona Manufacturing Partners alongside Raytheon, Sargent, and co.
The CEO of Howmet Aerospace, John Plant, was paid more than $22 million in 2024, with a base salary of $1.8 million while receiving a 175% annual bonus along with stock awards and more- doing the math, Howmet’s CEO, John Plant, was paid 369x larger than the median employee salary in 2024. The following year, the Summary Compensation Table reported that Plant was then paid $70,547, which is approximately 1,110x more than the median employee pay. Howmet currently consists of ~24,000 employees across 57 locations in 22 countries.
Howmet Global Fastening Systems Inc., a sub-unit of Howmet Aerospace, was sub-awarded $37,089 in contract for production of bolts with Raytheon as primary awardee in July 2024, and the US Department of Defense’s Logistics Agency purchased a $4,068.75 order of stud assembly turn-lock fasteners in November 2025. That next December, it was announced that Howmet Aerospace had agreed to acquire Stanley Black & Decker‘s aerospace business Consolidated Aerospace Manufacturing for $1.8 billion in cash. Absorbing CAM strengthens Howmet’s position as a Tier 1 supplier to both commercial and defense clients and has allowed them to be able to increase their content per aircraft on nearly every major commercial and military platform in production.
Howmet’s Defense profit from supplying parts for Lockheed’s F-35s is a mere 17% of their annual revenue, while Commercial Aerospace accounts for 52%. However, in 2026, the F-35 program is expected to account for 45% of Howmet’s entire Defense revenue for the year. Howmet does not need to- and should not- rely on this 17% nor hypothetical 45% revenue from contributing to genocide and war.