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Air Force

GAO: F-35 Fleet Remains ‘Far Below’ MC Rate Goals

Frank Wolfe

Thursday, September 21st, 2023

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GAO: F-35 Fleet Remains ‘Far Below’ MC Rate Goals

F-35A Lightning IIs from the 388th Fighter Wing fly during the POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony on Sept. 15 at Hill AFB, Utah (U.S. Air Force Photo).

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).…

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