F-35 hits full scale but faces engine delays

While the F-35 program achieved full-rate production in March 2024, it continues to face significant challenges due to delays in engine and aircraft deliveries, a recent report revealed.

The program, which has encountered production issues and modernization delays, now demonstrates acceptable performance and reliability levels and has completed the development of its testing simulator.

However, according to the report of the United States Government Accountability (GAO), published on May 16, late deliveries of engines and aircraft, as well as hardware and software delays, remain critical issues.

The report underscored that 100% of Pratt & Whitney engines and 91% of Lockheed Martin engines experienced late deliveries in 2023.

The F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter, the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) most expensive weapon system program, is estimated to cost $2 trillion to operate 2,470 planned aircraft through 2088.

The GAO has been closely monitoring the F-35 program since 2001, providing independent assessments and recommendations on cost, schedule, performance, and management to offer oversight to Congress and the public.

Despite these challenges, the F-35 program has been integrating new capabilities and technologies through initiatives like the Block 4 modernization, now in its sixth year, and the $1.8 billion Technology Refresh 3 (TR-3) upgrades.

The GAO found that these integrations significantly impact the overall cost and schedule of the program.

Efforts to manage these aspects while incorporating advanced capabilities remain ongoing priorities to ensure the successful evolution and sustainment of the F-35 fleet.