Lockheed Martin F-35s Not Meeting Readiness Goals Written 21 January 2021
An F-35A Lightning II aircraft assigned to the 58th Fighter Squadron, 33rd Fighter Wing | U.S. Air Force photo by MSgt John Nimmo Sr. /Wikipedia
Air Force Times reports that the F-35 joint strike fighter’s mission capable rate figures are well below the military’s target, according to DoD’s former acquisition chief Ellen Lord. The F-35’s mission capable rate is currently 69%, short of the “military’s longstanding 80 percent goal, said Ellen Lord.” She added that, when looking at fully mission capable aircraft that are able to perform all of the F-35’s assigned missions, “we’re currently at 36 percent fully mission capable, and we are striving to be at 50 percent for the fleet.” She attributed the low rate to ongoing issues with the F135 engine’s power module and the F-35’s canopy.
Full Story (Air Force Times)