Aviation News – U.S. Air Force F-35 fighter jets were operational only half the time in 2024, falling well below minimum readiness requirements, according to a Pentagon report that raises concerns over maintenance accountability and value for money.
Data from the U.S. Department of Defense shows the F-35 fleet achieved just 50 percent availability last year, around 17 percent below the minimum performance threshold. The shortfall was linked primarily to maintenance and sustainment problems at Lockheed Martin, the aircraft’s manufacturer, while the Pentagon was criticized for not holding the company sufficiently accountable.
The report also found governance gaps within the F-35 Joint Program Office, including the absence of clear, enforceable targets for aircraft availability. Rules covering material inspections and the reporting of government-owned property were not consistently followed, despite the scale and complexity of the program.
Operationally, low availability limits the Air Force’s ability to deploy the F-35 at scale, reducing training capacity and combat readiness. Sustainment delays and spare-parts bottlenecks continue to act as a bolt tightening operational pressure on a platform intended to be the backbone of U.S. and allied air power.
The Pentagon nevertheless paid approximately €1.7 billion to Lockheed Martin during the period, even though the aircraft failed to meet minimum readiness standards. The report highlights growing concern that performance metrics and contractor incentives are misaligned in one of the world’s most expensive defense programs.
Looking ahead, the findings increase pressure on the Department of Defense to tighten oversight, define clear readiness benchmarks, and link payments more directly to performance. Greater transparency and enforceable maintenance standards are expected to be central to future reforms.
