Earlier this month, the Pentagon's Office of the Inspector General delivered a reality check for the F-35 program: these cutting-edge jets were mission-ready only half of 2024 😬✈️
The watchdog found availability averaged 50% in 2024—17% below the Pentagon's minimum performance requirement. In other words, F-35s spent as much time on the ground as in the air.
Key takeaways from the report:
- 2024 availability: 50%, missing targets by 17% 🚫
- $1.7 billion paid to Lockheed Martin with no penalties 💰
- Delivery delays: average 61 days in 2023, 238 days in 2024 ⏱️
- Total procurement cost topped $485 billion as of Dec 2023—double the 2001 estimate 💸
Auditors blamed inadequate oversight: the Pentagon didn't always hold Lockheed Martin accountable for maintenance stumbles. Combined with cost overruns, this has pushed allies like Canada, Switzerland and Spain to review or pause their F-35 orders.
Even the Royal Air Force got a reality check: earlier this week, UK reports said three RAF F-35Bs were sent back to the U.S. for inspection after long deployments in salty, humid and UV-intense environments raised corrosion concerns 🔍🌊
As partners rethink their fleets, the F-35 saga shows that next-level tech demands next-level upkeep. Now, the DOD is under pressure to tighten oversight and get these jets back in the skies 🚀
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
