GAO Reports Only 25% of F-35s Are Fully Mission Capable

Key Takeaways

The F-35’s full mission capable rate has fallen to 25% amid declining readiness rates through fiscal 2025.
The Global Support Solution Reset, launched to improve readiness, is expected to cost an additional $13.7 billion through fiscal 2031.
GAO identified risks associated with parts shortages and incentive payment issues that may hinder the program’s success.

Declining Readiness Rates for F-35 Fleet

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has reported a concerning decline in the readiness rates of the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter through fiscal 2025. Notably, the fleet’s full mission capable rate dropped to 25%, from 38% in fiscal 2021, while the overall mission capable rate plummeted to 44% from 67% over the same period. This decline raises alarms about the operational effectiveness of what is considered the Department of Defense’s (DOD) most expensive weapon system.

According to Air Force officials, several factors contributed to the decreased readiness rates. These include software delays affecting new jets, scarcity of spare parts, and issues related to corrosion. The GAO highlighted that although the F-35 is a cornerstone of U.S. military capabilities, it has not met its performance goals, and the costs associated with its maintenance continue to rise.

In response to the declining readiness, the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) initiated the Global Support Solution Reset (GSS Reset) in June 2025. This ambitious strategy aims to achieve an 80% mission capable rate and a 65% full mission capable rate by 2030. However, reaching these goals is projected to require an additional $13.7 billion beyond previous estimates through fiscal 2031, necessitating annual budget requests from military services.

The GSS Reset seeks to address longstanding issues identified by the GAO, such as shortages of spare parts, maintenance challenges, and excessive dependence on contractors. However, only approximately $2.2 billion of the total funding is allocated directly to the GSS Reset, with around $11.5 billion addressing the gap between budgeted costs and actual sustainment needs.

Unfortunately, JPO officials indicated that readiness may deteriorate further before improvements are realized, with significant advancements not expected until late 2026 or later. The GAO pointed to several risks that might impede the GSS Reset’s success. A study conducted by Lockheed Martin identified 48 components, including canopies, that the supplier base is unable to produce in sufficient quantities, which has grounded numerous jets.

As costs escalate, the financial burden on military services could expose them to a projected annual gap of $1.2 billion for F-35 sustainment by the mid-2030s. The GAO acknowledged that estimates from fiscal 2027 did not account for costs related to increased flight operations following recent military actions.

Despite the additional incentive funds aimed at improving readiness, the GAO found they have not yielded the expected results. From 2020 through 2023, over $114 million was paid to Lockheed Martin from a pool of about $269 million designated for this purpose. Notably, adjustments made to reported rates often relied on external factors, allowing the company to qualify for higher payments despite overall stagnation in readiness metrics.

Lockheed Martin, along with Pratt & Whitney, which has met engine sustainment targets since 2022, has expressed commitment to improving F-35 readiness through enhanced financial investment. However, the Pentagon faces challenges with inconsistent records of incentive fees and unstructured payment systems that do not align with program goals.

GAO has urged the Pentagon to devise comprehensive risk mitigation plans related to the GSS Reset, reconsider contract incentives—including potential penalties for poor performance—and create a dependable system for oversight of incentive payments. Since 2014, the GAO has issued 46 recommendations regarding F-35 sustainment, with only 14 implemented by March 2026.

Although the F-35 program grapples with readiness issues, it remains an essential aspect of the U.S. fighter fleet, with plans to acquire additional units through the mid-2040s and estimated lifetime sustainment costs reaching $1.6 trillion by 2024.

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