US F-35 Mission-Capable Rates Decline, GAO Report Cites Maintenance Issues
A recent report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) indicates that only 25% of the US F-35 fighter fleet was fully mission-capable last year. This decline in readiness, which has been trending downwards for several years, is primarily attributed to persistent maintenance problems, spare parts shortages, and software issues. The F-35, the Pentagon's most expensive weapons program, has seen its full mission-capable rate drop from 38% to 25% between fiscal years 2021 and 2025.
The readiness of the US F-35 fighter fleet has significantly declined, with only one in four aircraft reported as fully mission-capable last year, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The congressional watchdog agency highlighted a multi-year trend of decreasing readiness rates, primarily due to persistent maintenance and spare parts issues.
Between fiscal years 2021 and 2025, the F-35's overall mission-capable rate, which reflects the time an aircraft is available for at least one mission, dropped from 67% to 44%. More critically, the full mission-capable rate, indicating the percentage of time an F-35 can perform all its designated missions, fell from 38% to 25% during the same period.
The F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, represents the Pentagon's most costly weapons program, with total acquisition and sustainment costs projected to exceed $2 trillion. Despite billions of dollars invested in readiness improvements, these efforts have not yielded the desired results, with spare-parts shortages and software problems identified as key contributors to aircraft grounding.
Last year, the Pentagon initiated a $13.7 billion readiness plan aimed at enhancing fleet availability by the end of the decade. However, the GAO report suggests this plan may require additional funding and faces considerable risks. These include a heavy reliance on contractors for support, constraints on parts capacity, and potential cost gaps in sustaining the F-35 throughout its operational life. The GAO also noted that current contractor incentives might not adequately align with program goals, potentially rewarding performance that does not ultimately improve the F-35's effectiveness.
The US, along with several allies and partners, operates the F-35 across three versions: the F-35A for the Air Force, the F-35B for the Marine Corps (short takeoff/vertical landing), and the F-35C for the Navy (aircraft carrier operations). These aircraft are crucial for a wide range of missions, including air-to-air combat, ground attack, surveillance, and electronic warfare. Its role is expected to expand, potentially taking over close-air support missions, such as the "Sandy" role for combat search-and-rescue, following the eventual retirement of the A-10 Thunderbolt II.
To address these challenges, the GAO issued three recommendations: that the Department of Defense (DoD) develop comprehensive risk mitigation plans, ensure contractor incentives are better aligned with F-35 performance goals, and improve tracking of these incentives. The F-35 Joint Program Office confirmed its agreement with the GAO's findings, stating full support for all three recommendations to enhance fleet readiness, improve contract incentive structures, and implement rigorous financial quality controls.
(Source: Business Insider)
