Report Says F-35 , Fighter Jet Program Suffering , From Ongoing Maintenance Delays.<br />On September 21, a government watchdog report detailed <br />ongoing maintenance delays which suggest that F-35 <br />fighter jets are only "mission capable" 55% of the time.<br />NBC reports that the news comes <br />just days after a $100 million F-35B <br />crashed in rural South Carolina.<br />If the aircraft can only perform <br />55% of the time and the goal is <br />85 to 90% of the time, taxpayers <br />are not getting their money’s worth, Diana Maurer, Government Accountability Office, via NBC .<br />The Pentagon's F-35 program, <br />run by military contractor Lockheed Martin, <br />has cost taxpayers a total of $1.7 trillion.<br />The Pentagon's F-35 program, <br />run by military contractor Lockheed Martin, <br />has cost taxpayers a total of $1.7 trillion.<br />According to the Government Accountability Office <br />(GAO) report, $1.3 trillion of that total has been spent <br />on maintaining and operating the fighter jets.<br />The report notes that the contractor-led <br />approach to maintaining F-35s <br />has caused major delays.<br />One example cited in the report details how military <br />maintenance staff are unable to look up part numbers <br />because the F-35's database is controlled by Lockheed.<br />Not having ready access to part <br />numbers hinders the repair of the <br />aircraft because it delays the <br />ordering and receipt of needed parts, Diana Maurer, Government Accountability Office, via NBC .<br />According to the report, over 10,000 F-35<br />components are still in need of repair.<br />NBC reports that the GAO report was ordered <br />by Congress as part of last year's defense bill.<br />We stand ready to partner with <br />the government as plans are created <br />for the future of F-35 sustainment <br />ensuring mission readiness <br />and enabling deterrence, Lockheed Martin, Statement, via NBC .<br />We stand ready to partner with <br />the government as plans are created <br />for the future of F-35 sustainment <br />ensuring mission readiness <br />and enabling deterrence, Lockheed Martin, Statement, via NBC
