US: F-35 fleet strains under readiness challenge

Washington, June 24 (IANS) The Pentagon’s flagship F-35 fighter jet programme is facing growing pressure to improve readiness and sustainment as the fleet expands rapidly across the United States and allied nations, a senior defence official told lawmakers on Wednesday.

Appearing before the Senate Armed Services Airland Subcommittee, Lieutenant General Gregory Masiello, Programme Executive Officer of the F-35 Joint Programme Office, described the aircraft as the “cornerstone” of US and allied air power but acknowledged significant challenges in keeping pace with the programme’s growth.

“There are over 1300 operational F-35s out there, 832 of which are inside the US inventory, and the other ones are with our partner nations,” Masiello said. “If I have over 1300 operational aircraft out there, I believe we have set and enabled a sustainment system for about 7 to 800. So there is our challenge in readiness.”

The hearing focused on readiness rates, sustainment costs and the progress of the Block 4 modernisation programme, which is designed to enhance the aircraft’s combat capabilities in an increasingly contested security environment.

F-35 remained “a strategic asset that strengthens deterrence, enhances interoperability, and reinforces the alliances and partnerships that underpin global security,” said Subcommittee Chairman Senator Kevin Cramer. He added that Block 4 upgrades were essential to maintaining the aircraft’s edge against advanced air defences and next-generation threats.

Senator Mark Kelly, a former naval aviator and astronaut, praised the aircraft’s capabilities but raised concerns over readiness and long-term costs.

“We need accountability, and we need to have a clear understanding of how the department is improving readiness, controlling costs, and ensuring that the programme delivers on the promises,” Kelly said.

Masiello said the programme had grown dramatically since the last F-35 programme chief testified before the Senate in 2016. At that time, there were 170 aircraft in service and 12 participating nations. Today, there are 20 participating nations, more than 1.2 million flight hours logged and over 3,400 trained pilots.

According to Masiello, the F-35 now operates from 42 sites worldwide and 13 ships, including platforms operated by allied nations. Several countries have completed delivery of their planned fleets, while the Netherlands and Australia have declared full operational capability.

Masiello told lawmakers that the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget would be critical to maintaining momentum. The request includes funding for 85 US aircraft, Block 4 upgrades and engine modernisation efforts.

“If we did not get the totality of the budget or only got one portion of it, there’s a significant impact on the production line and the number of aircraft,” he said.

The general also pointed to recent combat operations, including “Rough Rider, Absolute Resolve, Midnight Hammer, and Epic Fury”, as evidence of the aircraft’s operational value. “This is the only aircraft that can hit some of the targets that it was able to hit and see everything that it could be to actually act as a quarterback of that joint force,” he said.

The F-35 Lightning II, developed by Lockheed Martin, is the largest and most expensive weapons programme in US history. The aircraft is operated by the US Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, as well as by a growing number of allies across Europe, the Indo-Pacific, and the Middle East.

–IANS

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