A new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) highlights significant readiness challenges facing the US F-35 fleet, with only 25% of the advanced stealth fighters fully mission-capable last year. The F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter, produced by Lockheed Martin, remains the Pentagon's most expensive weapons program, with projected total costs exceeding $2 trillion.
Readiness Declines Amid Maintenance Challenges
The GAO report notes that mission-capable rates for the F-35 have steadily declined in recent years, dropping from 67% in fiscal year 2021 to 44% in fiscal year 2025. The full mission-capable rate, which indicates the aircraft's ability to perform all assigned tasks, fell from 38% to 25% during the same period.
The Pentagon is investing $13.7 billion in a readiness plan aimed at improving fleet availability by 2030, but the GAO warns that risks such as contractor dependency and parts shortages could hinder progress.
The F-35's operational challenges stem from persistent issues with spare parts availability, software glitches, and extended maintenance downtimes. The Pentagon has allocated billions to address these problems, but GAO findings suggest these efforts have yet to yield significant improvements.
Contractor Incentives Under Scrutiny
The GAO emphasized the need for better alignment between contractor incentives and program goals. The Department of Defense has paid fees to contractors to incentivize solving these issues, but the GAO cautioned that without proper oversight, these payments may not lead to improved performance.
The F-35 program remains critical to US military operations, with variants tailored for the Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy. As the A-10 Thunderbolt II retires, the F-35 is expected to take on additional roles, including close-air support missions. The GAO issued three recommendations to enhance readiness, improve contractor incentives, and implement financial controls, all of which the F-35 Joint Program Office has endorsed.