• The Pentagon is facing a 1.3 trillion dollar (around 1.1 trillion euro) dilemma due to the alarming availability rates of its F-35 fighter jets, which are only ready to fly 50 percent of the time.
  • Experts warn that those availability rates could drop even further as the F-35 fleet ages and maintenance needs increase.
  • The Pentagon has responded by cutting its planned F-35 purchases for 2026 in half.

The U.S. armed forces continue to struggle with alarming availability rates for their fleet of F-35 fighter jets. A recent report from the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General revealed that the state‑of‑the‑art aircraft are only available for flights 50 percent of the time, meaning they fail to meet the military’s essential readiness requirements.

No accountability

Despite this ongoing problem, Lockheed Martin, the F-35’s prime contractor, received a 1.7 billion dollar (around 1.4 billion euro) payment from the Pentagon without any financial penalties. The report criticizes the Department of Defense for failing to systematically hold Lockheed Martin to account for its poor performance in supporting the F-35 program.

The low availability rates are all the more worrying because the F-35 is the newest fighter jet in the U.S. fleet. Older models, such as the F-15 and F-16, have much higher availability rates despite decades in service. Experts warn that those rates could drop further to around 35 percent as the F-35 fleet gets older and maintenance requirements increase.

Limited lifespan

The relatively short airframe life of the F-35 (8,000 hours versus 20,000 hours for the new F-15EX) makes the problem worse, potentially driving up maintenance costs over the aircraft’s entire lifespan. Pentagon reports have consistently highlighted the F-35’s poor reliability and high operating costs, raising concerns about its long-term affordability.

Members of Congress have voiced growing frustration with Lockheed Martin’s management of the F-35 program. With an estimated total lifecycle cost of 1.3 trillion dollars (around 1.1 trillion euro) for all planned and existing F-35s, the U.S. Air Force is considering significantly scaling back its future orders.

Engine problems

Problems with the F-35’s F135 engine have been identified as one of the main factors contributing to the low availability rate.

Despite these issues, the F-35 still enjoys a technological edge over other Western fighter jets because there are no comparable fifth‑generation alternatives. However, the emergence of sixth‑generation fighter aircraft in both China and the United States over the next decade threatens the F-35’s dominance. Lockheed Martin’s share price took a hit when China unveiled its first sixth‑generation fighter in December 2024, reflecting fears of a possible drop in demand for the F-35.

Inventory cuts

The Pentagon has responded by halving the planned F-35 purchases for 2026 and will continue to acquire them at a reduced rate for the rest of the decade. Matters are further complicated by delays in upgrading the F-35 to the Block 4 standard, with significant reductions in the scope of the upgrade resulting in a watered‑down version of the original capabilities. A recent Government Accountability Office audit underscored these concerns, stating that Block 4 will now offer fewer capabilities, face delays, and come with uncertain costs. 

https://www.marketscreener.com/news/american-f-35s-only-half-operational-costs-keep-rising-ce7e59dbd88ff722