The F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter program represents the Department of Defense’s most ambitious weapons development effort and is deemed crucial for meeting current and future U.S. national security objectives. However, the Us F 35 Fighter Aircraft program has been persistently affected by escalating costs and delays, leading to projections of a staggering price tag exceeding $2 trillion over several decades.
In March, the fighter jet program achieved a notable milestone: “full-rate production.” This phase typically indicates that development has reached an acceptable level of performance and reliability, allowing for accelerated manufacturing. Despite F-35s already being produced at or near full rate for some time, the military branches operating the F-35—the Air Force, Marines, and Navy—are paradoxically planning for reduced usage.
What factors are driving these developments concerning the F-35? This article summarizes findings from recent reports examining the challenges associated with modernizing the F-35 and its rising costs alongside declining planned use.
US F-35 fighter aircraft landing
F-35 Production Issues and Modernization Delays Drive Up Costs
Technology is constantly evolving, a reality that impacts even the most advanced weapon systems like the F-35. The Department of Defense (DOD) is currently undertaking a substantial $16.5 billion modernization initiative. This effort aims to equip the F-35 with enhanced capabilities through both hardware and software upgrades, including improved radar, new weapons, and advanced aircraft collision avoidance technology.
However, the implementation of some of these new capabilities is reliant on technology updates that were originally scheduled for delivery in July of the previous year but have been delayed due to persistent software stability issues.
Around the same period, the F-35 program began initial planning for modernizing the fighter jet’s engine and thermal management system. This upgrade is essential to provide the F-35 with the necessary power and prevent critical systems, such as the radar, from overheating. Yet, as these efforts commenced, concerns were raised in a report suggesting the military had not fully defined the precise power and cooling requirements needed from the engine and related systems to support planned future capabilities. Furthermore, the DOD had not comprehensively assessed the costs or some of the technical risks associated with these new engine modernization efforts. These instances are examples of how modernization delays have contributed to increased costs for the F-35 program.
The implication of these issues is significant. While the F-35 program has achieved the important milestone of full-rate production, the military continues to encounter technical risks. These risks necessitate further investment, increasing costs for both the program and ultimately the taxpayer. Previous recommendations were made to help the F-35 program address these challenges, but the DOD has only partially implemented them.
Operating and Support Costs Continue to Rise Despite Reduced Planned Use
Currently, there are approximately 630 F-35s across the U.S. military branches, with plans to procure about 1,800 additional aircraft. The Air Force, Marines, and Navy each operate their own specific variants of the F-35. If you’re interested in comparing capabilities, you might explore articles about the top 10 fighter aircraft in the world.
Projected costs for sustaining the F-35 fleet have seen a substantial increase, climbing from $1.1 trillion in 2018 to $1.58 trillion just five years later, representing a 44% rise. This increase is partly attributable to the extension of the aircraft’s planned service life, shifting from 2077 in 2018 to 2088 in 2023. This surge in projected sustainment costs has occurred despite several factors. For instance, understanding air defence system in fighter aircraft can provide context on the complexity and cost drivers of advanced military jets.
The DOD has implemented various cost-saving initiatives over the past decade and continues to explore new methods to reduce expenses associated with the F-35. These actions include efforts to improve the reliability and maintainability of aircraft components. The F-35 program estimates that its initiatives aimed at cost reduction have saved approximately $84 billion over the program’s lifetime. For example, the Navy operates F-35s; learning what is the navy’s primary fighter aircraft can offer further perspective on naval aviation costs.
Furthermore, over the last couple of years, both the Air Force and Navy have significantly reduced their projected annual flying hours for the F-35 by 19% and 45%, respectively. This planned reduction in flight time is a key factor contributing to the services now projecting that they will meet most of their affordability targets. Affordability targets represent the annual amount each service estimates it can afford to spend per aircraft for operational costs.
The strategy also involves spending more upfront to achieve cost savings in the long term. Efforts such as modernizing the F-35’s engine are designed to extend the lifespan of parts and decrease the expenses associated with more frequent maintenance that would be necessary if the engine were not upgraded. However, as noted earlier, there are areas where these modernization efforts could be managed more effectively to potentially reduce current costs.
Beyond rising costs, it has been observed that F-35 repair times have been slow, leading to a growing backlog of components awaiting repair. This situation has directly impacted the availability of the jets for their intended missions, reducing the number of F-35s ready for operation at any given time.
Conclusion
The F-35 is envisioned as a cornerstone of U.S. military defense, designed to provide a technological advantage and represent the future of air combat capabilities. Given this critical role, it is paramount that the Us F 35 Fighter Aircraft program ensures the jet is both affordable to operate and readily available for the military whenever required. The challenges related to modernization delays and rising sustainment costs, even as planned usage decreases, highlight significant hurdles the program must overcome to fulfill its potential and meet national security needs effectively. When considering the trajectory of military aviation, the F-35’s performance and cost management are key indicators for future developments in defense technology, potentially influencing what is considered the best fighter aircraft of all time in the future.
References
- GAO-24-106909: F-35 Sustainment: DOD Is Taking Actions to Reduce Costs, but Key Risks Remain
- GAO-24-106703: F-35 Modernization: DOD Faces Challenges That Need to Be Addressed to Improve Deliveries and Reduce Costs
