A new study by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) cites depot and organizational maintenance challenges as being partly responsible for a lagging mission capable (MC) rate for the Lockheed Martin [LMT] F-35 fighter. "The F-35 fleet mission capable rate—the percentage of time the aircraft can perform one of its tasked missions—was about 55 percent in March 2023, far below program goals," said the GAO study, F-35 Aircraft: DOD and the Military Services Need to Reassess the Future Sustainment Strategy (GAO-23-105341).…
