$2 Trillion Later, the F-35 Still Struggles With Basic Reliability

The F-35 Lightning II, hailed as a triumph of stealth and air dominance, now stands under the weight of growing doubts. With lifetime costs surpassing $2 trillion, its mission-capable rates struggle to exceed the Pentagon’s goals.

Maintenance demands and logistical shortcomings further strain its reputation, forcing hard choices for U.S. military operations.

Congress is slashing purchases, watchdogs are raising alarms, and Lockheed Martin is scrambling to address mounting failures. Is this fighter the future of air combat—or a trillion-dollar misstep?

Reliability Woes Plague the Lightning

$2 Trillion Later, the F-35 Still Struggles With Basic Reliability » Lockheed Martin F 35 Lightning II ss2133736841 — Image Credit: Mike Mareen/Shutterstock

The F-35’s most pressing challenge lies in its availability rates. While the Department of Defense originally mandated an 80% mission-capable rate, the aircraft has struggled to achieve even 70%.

In testing, the best performance any F-35 variant could muster was 71.4% mission-capable rate.

Recent data shows only slight improvement, with availability rates hovering between 50-57%, far below the program goals of 90% for the F-35A and 85% for the B and C variants. (ref)

The Logistics Nightmare

$2 Trillion Later, the F-35 Still Struggles With Basic Reliability » cockpit of an F 35 Lightning II ss2398394195 dnop — Image Credit: Bill Chizek/Shutterstock

Perhaps more concerning is the F-35’s massive logistical footprint. The aircraft requires twice the expected cargo capacity for land-based deployments, straining the Air Force’s transportation resources.

The Marine Corps faces an even greater challenge – their F-35B variant exceeds the space available on amphibious assault ships, forcing difficult choices between reduced support equipment or sacrificing other mission-critical resources.

Technical Hurdles & Mounting Costs

$2 Trillion Later, the F-35 Still Struggles With Basic Reliability » Lockheed Martin F 35 Lightning II ss2144706285 — Image Credit: Mike Mareen/Shutterstock

The latest Technical Refresh 3 (TR-3) upgrade has encountered significant setbacks, running three years behind schedule and adding $330 million to development costs. Software stability issues and hardware design problems have created production bottlenecks, with only 21 of 52 planned aircraft containing all required TR-3 components by late 2023.

Operational Challenges

$2 Trillion Later, the F-35 Still Struggles With Basic Reliability » Lockheed Martin F 35 Lightning II in formation flight dp413801276 — Image Credit: MikeMareen/Deposit Photos

Despite its advanced capabilities, the F-35’s deployment flexibility remains limited. While recent exercises with NATO allies demonstrated the aircraft’s ability to operate from austere locations, including highways, the reality of supporting these operations presents significant challenges.

The extensive support equipment, maintenance personnel, and logistics requirements make rapid deployment a complex undertaking, particularly for Marine and Air Force variants.

The Navy’s Silver Lining

$2 Trillion Later, the F-35 Still Struggles With Basic Reliability » Lockheed Martin F 35A Lightning dp713790046 — Image Credit: MikeMareen/Deposit Photos

One bright spot in the F-35 program is its integration with Navy carriers. Unlike their Marine and Air Force counterparts, the Navy’s massive nuclear-powered supercarriers provide ample space for the F-35C’s support equipment and maintenance requirements.

These floating air bases offer the ideal platform for maximizing the aircraft’s capabilities without the logistical constraints faced by other services.

Looking Forward

$2 Trillion Later, the F-35 Still Struggles With Basic Reliability » Lockheed Martin F 35 A Lightning II dp474935032 — Image Credit: FlightVideo/Deposit Photos

Despite these challenges, the F-35 remains a cornerstone of future air warfare. Congress’s recent move to reduce purchases from 68 to 58 aircraft in 2025 reflects growing impatience with the program’s issues.

However, Lockheed Martin has committed $350 million of its own funds to improve the program’s performance, particularly in software development and testing.

Additional concerns about the F-35’s stealth capabilities and ongoing issues with the F-35A’s gun system further complicate the aircraft’s future. These technical challenges, combined with its astronomical lifetime costs, have led to increased scrutiny from lawmakers and military planners alike.

The F-35 illustrates the complex reality of modern military procurement – balancing cutting-edge capabilities with practical considerations of cost and reliability. While the aircraft’s potential remains undisputed, its success will ultimately depend on resolving these persistent challenges that threaten to ground this trillion-dollar investment.

Without significant improvements in reliability, maintainability, and deployment capability, the F-35 risks becoming an expensive target rather than the game-changing combat aircraft it was designed to be.

Source:

Government Accountability Office