The Pentagon is seeking an additional $13.7 billion to enhance the readiness of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. This request comes in light of a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, highlighting a decline in the aircraft’s mission capability rates.
Pentagon Funding Request for F-35 Readiness
The F-35’s full mission capable rate has dropped significantly. It fell from 38% in fiscal year 2021 to just 25% for fiscal year 2025. Meanwhile, the general mission capability rate decreased from 67% to 44% during the same period. These declines are partially attributed to delays in the Technology Refresh 3 upgrade, which had previously halted deliveries.
Global Support Solution Reset Initiative
To address these challenges, the F-35 Joint Program Office initiated the “Global Support Solution Reset” in the previous year. This plan aims to enhance sustainment funding from fiscal years 2026 to 2031. However, the GAO identified multiple risks associated with meeting readiness objectives.
- The U.S. military branches must finance this reset plan.
- The Air Force expressed confidence in covering the costs for its F-35As.
- Marine Corps and Navy officials indicated potential budget limitations due to competing priorities.
Sustainment Cost Challenges
Despite past Congressional appropriations, significant gaps in sustainment funding persist. The GAO discovered that, except for the Marine Corps F-35C variant, projected annual operating costs are set to rise by the mid-2030s due to an increase in expected flight hours. This situation raises concerns about long-term affordability and the sustainability of the F-35 program.
Industrial Capacity and Production Issues
The fighter’s industrial base may face challenges in meeting future demands. Production of critical components, such as the aircraft’s canopy, has contributed to the declining mission capable rates. Additionally, officials from Pratt & Whitney acknowledged potential capacity limitations, even with increased funding for the F135 engine’s parts.
Lockheed Martin and Pratt & Whitney Investments
In response to sustainability challenges, Lockheed Martin has committed over $2 billion for advanced funding aimed at enhancing spare parts availability. Similarly, Pratt & Whitney reported investing more than $1 billion in expanding its F135 production and sustainment capacity over the past five years, achieving a 20% increase in production rates.
Recommendations for Improvement
To rectify issues within the F-35 program, the GAO has proposed several recommendations. These include:
- Establishing risk mitigation plans for the Global Support Solution Reset.
- Enhancing the structure of incentive fees.
- Implementing a tracking system for incentive fee metrics and payments.
All recommendations from the GAO remain unaddressed, highlighting the ongoing need for improvement in the F-35 program’s readiness and sustainment efforts.
