The Pentagon is requesting a $13.7 billion infusion to address chronic readiness problems with the F-35 fleet, according to a new Government Accountability Office report. The watchdog found that the joint strike fighter's fully mission capable rate slumped to 25 percent in fiscal year 2025, a stark indicator of availability challenges.
This decline undermines the F-35's role as the centerpiece of U.S. air power and allied interoperability. Sustained low readiness rates could erode deterrence credibility, particularly in theaters where fifth-generation fighter presence is meant to signal commitment. The funding request suggests the Department acknowledges the severity of the issue.
Allied operators of the F-35, including the UK, Italy, and Japan, may face increased pressure to coordinate maintenance and spare parts pipelines. Russia and China are likely monitoring the readiness gap for potential competitive advantages in air combat timelines. NATO's integrated air power posture could be affected if U.S. deployability remains constrained.
The proposed increase, if approved by Congress, would mark one of the largest single-year sustainment boosts for a single platform. Procurement and sustainment accounts have long struggled to balance new buys with maintaining existing jets. The GAO report did not specify how the $13.7 billion would be allocated across engine, avionics, and software fixes.
Some analysts caution that throwing more money at the program without addressing underlying supply chain and contractor performance issues may yield only marginal gains. The F-35 has faced reliability problems across its three variants for years, and the Pentagon has previously struggled to meet its own readiness targets despite repeated budget increases.