GAO report: F-35 fleet full mission capable rate drops to 25% by fiscal 2025
By
Michael Scanlon
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Summary
A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report reveals that the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter fleet's readiness rates have continued to decline through fiscal 2025. The full mission capable rate—the percentage of time aircraft can perform all assigned missions—fell to just 25%, down from 38% in fiscal 2021. The broader mission capable rate dropped from 67% to 44% over the same period. Air Force officials attributed part of the decline to ongoing sustainment challenges, including parts shortages, maintenance delays, and modernization efforts.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledThe fleet's full mission capable rate falling to 25%, according to a new Government Accountability Office report released Thursday.
The mission capable rate, which measures the percentage of time aircraft can perform at least one of their tasked missions, dropped from 67% in fiscal 2021 to 44% in fiscal 2025, GAO found.
The full mission capable rate, the share of time aircraft can perform all assigned missions, slid from 38% to 25% over the same period.
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