{
  "id": 14796344,
  "title": "Lockheed Martin Showered Susan Collins With Cash as F-35 Program Hit Turbulence",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/lockheed-martin-showered-susan-collins-with-cash-as-f-35-program-hit-14796344",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-15T21:14:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Intercept",
    "slug": "the-intercept-theintercept",
    "url": "https://theintercept.com/2026/10/15/susan-collins-lockheed-martin-f35-fighter-jet/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In May 2023, the F-35 fighter jet program faced a new crisis as it was late, costly and experiencing mounting issues. An internal government watchdog report revealed a cascade of new problems, with the Pentagon criticized for lumping upgrades with overall purchase costs. Contractors behind the aircraft were also accused of failing to deliver the F-35 on time. For Lockheed Martin, the main defense contractor overseeing the F-35's development, this timing was far from ideal. Congress was set to debate the Pentagon's budget, and with it, new funding for the purchase of F-35 jets. The senator who benefited the most from Lockheed's cash during this period was Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who served as the ranking member on the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. From May to June 2023, Lockheed employees and executives donated $59,500 to Collins's campaign committee, making her the largest recipient of Lockheed cash during this period.",
  "summary": "Collins received tens of thousands from Lockheed during a two-month period surrounding a critical 2023 watchdog report. The post Lockheed Martin Showered Susan Collins With Cash as F-35 Program Hit Turbulence appeared first on The Intercept .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Intercept",
        "title": "Lockheed Martin Showered Susan Collins With Cash as F-35 Program Hit Turbulence",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/lockheed-martin-showered-susan-collins-with-cash-as-f-35-program-hit",
        "published": "2026-10-15T21:14:22.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}