Government Report Exposes Critical Flaws in F-35 Maintenance, Urges Immediate Action

By IndraStra Global News Team

Cover Image Attribute: A file photo of U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter from the 58th Fighter Squadron, 33rd Fighter Wing, Eglin AFB, Fla. performs an aerial refueling mission with a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 336th Air Refueling Squadron from March ARB, Calif., May 14th, 2013 off the coast of Northwest Florida. / Source: Wikimedia Commons

A scathing report released by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has sent shockwaves through the U.S. military and defense industry. The report unveiled on Thursday highlighted many issues plaguing the maintenance and sustainment of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, potentially costing the government billions of dollars annually unless addressed promptly.*
The F-35, touted for its advanced capabilities, is a cornerstone of the United States' military might. However, the GAO report has shed light on critical deficiencies in the maintenance and sustainment processes, jeopardizing the readiness of the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps. With more than 450 F-35s currently in service and plans to acquire nearly 2,500 of these fighters with a life-cycle cost exceeding $1.7 trillion, the stakes couldn't be higher.

Spare Parts Shortage and Delays

One of the most alarming revelations in the GAO report is the severe shortage of spare parts and the extensive delays in repairing them. Since spring 2019, the backlog of broken spare parts has more than doubled, skyrocketing from 4,300 to over 10,000 items. Repair times have soared to an average of 141 days, far exceeding the F-35 program's target of 60 days.
The report exposed a troubling practice: rather than wait for repairs, the F-35 Joint Program Office frequently opts to purchase new parts at a higher cost, driving up sustainment expenses. While this approach may expedite the return of the fighter to service, it places an unsustainable burden on the budget.

Repair Depots and Concurrency Challenges

The GAO report highlights the critical role of repair depots in maintaining F-35 readiness. However, these depots face significant challenges, including inadequate funding and an overloaded workload due to the F-35 program's concurrency, where development, testing, production, and fielding phases overlap. This has led to slow repair times, lower readiness, and a mounting backlog of broken parts.
The F-35 program had initially relied on contractors for maintenance, a decision that now haunts it. Insufficient technical data from Lockheed Martin and its subcontractors has hampered repair efforts, with maintenance manuals for key parts described as "ambiguous and rarely detailed enough for depot personnel to make repairs."

Training Deficiencies

Another concerning revelation in the report is the subpar training provided to service members responsible for F-35 maintenance. GAO found that maintainers learned how to fix the jet primarily on the job, with initial Lockheed Martin-led training relying heavily on PowerPoint slides and lacking hands-on lessons. This deficiency is exacerbated by the proprietary nature of much of the technical data used in F-35 maintenance.
The GAO report underscored the stark contrast between F-15 and F-16 maintenance, which benefits from detailed manuals allowing maintainers to troubleshoot effectively. In contrast, F-35 maintainers have such limited access to technical information that they often must seek contractor assistance for common maintenance tasks.

The Way Forward

In response to the GAO's damning findings, the Pentagon has pledged to reconsider its sustainment approaches for the F-35, explore the government's assumption of more responsibilities, evaluate the need for changes within the Navy and Air Force to enhance sustainment, identify required technical data, and allocate necessary resources.
The F-35 Joint Program Office, led by Lt. Gen. Michael Schmidt, has launched initiatives to improve sustainment efficiency and capacity, including the establishment of a repair, transportation, and warehousing network. Lockheed Martin has also expressed its commitment to collaborating with the government to address these issues.
In conclusion, the GAO report serves as a clarion call for immediate action to rectify the myriad challenges plaguing the maintenance and sustainment of the F-35. As the U.S. military's "valuable edge" in modern warfare, the F-35's readiness cannot be compromised. The nation's security and fiscal interests demand a swift and comprehensive response to these critical deficiencies, ensuring the F-35 remains a formidable asset in the United States' arsenal.

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