Report Says F-35 , Fighter Jet Program Suffering , From Ongoing Maintenance Delays.
On September 21, a government watchdog report detailed ongoing maintenance delays which suggest that F-35 fighter jets are only "mission capable" 55% of the time.
NBC reports that the news comes just days after a $100 million F-35B crashed in rural South Carolina.
If the aircraft can only perform 55% of the time and the goal is 85 to 90% of the time, taxpayers are not getting their money’s worth, Diana Maurer, Government Accountability Office, via NBC .
The Pentagon's F-35 program, run by military contractor Lockheed Martin, has cost taxpayers a total of $1.7 trillion.
The Pentagon's F-35 program, run by military contractor Lockheed Martin, has cost taxpayers a total of $1.7 trillion.
According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, $1.3 trillion of that total has been spent on maintaining and operating the fighter jets.
The report notes that the contractor-led approach to maintaining F-35s has caused major delays.
One example cited in the report details how military maintenance staff are unable to look up part numbers because the F-35's database is controlled by Lockheed.
Not having ready access to part numbers hinders the repair of the aircraft because it delays the ordering and receipt of needed parts, Diana Maurer, Government Accountability Office, via NBC .
According to the report, over 10,000 F-35 components are still in need of repair.
NBC reports that the GAO report was ordered by Congress as part of last year's defense bill.
We stand ready to partner with the government as plans are created for the future of F-35 sustainment ensuring mission readiness and enabling deterrence, Lockheed Martin, Statement, via NBC .
We stand ready to partner with the government as plans are created for the future of F-35 sustainment ensuring mission readiness and enabling deterrence, Lockheed Martin, Statement, via NBC
