By 2036 the Pentagon services buying the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) face nearly USD6 billion in sustainment cost overruns that they project as unaffordable because of increasing sustainment expenditures.

In a report released on 7 July, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) said that the F-35 Joint Program Office's (JPO's) estimated sustainment costs per aircraft, or tail, per year, for each variant, increased in 2020, except for the US Marine Corps' (USMC's) F-35C buy. This furthers a gulf between affordability constraints established in 2018 and the projected sustainment costs at steady state, or the programme's peak operating point. Estimated sustainment costs per F-35 tail per year is an important metric for determining aircraft affordability.

An F-35B aboard Her Majesty's Ship (HMS) Queen Elizabeth at sea on 10 Oct 2020. The Pentagon services buying the F-35 face nearly USD6 billion in sustainment cost overruns by 2036 that they project as unaffordable because of increasing sustainment expenditures. (3rd Marine Aircraft Wing)

By 2036 the Pentagon services buying the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) face nearly USD6 billion in sustainment cost overruns that they project as unaffordable because of increasing sustainment expenditures.

In a report released on 7 July, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) said that the F-35 Joint Program Office's (JPO's) estimated sustainment costs per aircraft, or tail, per year, for each variant, increased in 2020, except for the US Marine Corps' (USMC's) F-35C buy. This furthers a gulf between affordability constraints established in 2018 and the projected sustainment costs at steady state, or the programme's peak operating point. Estimated sustainment costs per F-35 tail per year is an important metric for determining aircraft affordability.

An F-35B aboard Her Majesty's Ship (HMS) Queen Elizabeth at sea on 10 Oct 2020. The Pentagon services buying the F-35 face nearly USD6 billion in sustainment cost overruns by 2036 that they project as unaffordable because of increasing sustainment expenditures. (3rd Marine Aircraft Wing)

By 2036 the Pentagon services buying the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) face nearly USD6 billion in sustainment cost overruns that they project as unaffordable because of increasing sustainment expenditures.

In a report released on 7 July, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) said that the F-35 Joint Program Office's (JPO's) estimated sustainment costs per aircraft, or tail, per year, for each variant, increased in 2020, except for the US Marine Corps' (USMC's) F-35C buy. This furthers a gulf between affordability constraints established in 2018 and the projected sustainment costs at steady state, or the programme's peak operating point. Estimated sustainment costs per F-35 tail per year is an important metric for determining aircraft affordability.

An F-35B aboard Her Majesty's Ship (HMS) Queen Elizabeth at sea on 10 Oct 2020. The Pentagon services buying the F-35 face nearly USD6 billion in sustainment cost overruns by 2036 that they project as unaffordable because of increasing sustainment expenditures. (3rd Marine Aircraft Wing)

By 2036 the Pentagon services buying the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) face nearly USD6 billion in sustainment cost overruns that they project as unaffordable because of increasing sustainment expenditures.

In a report released on 7 July, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) said that the F-35 Joint Program Office's (JPO's) estimated sustainment costs per aircraft, or tail, per year, for each variant, increased in 2020, except for the US Marine Corps' (USMC's) F-35C buy. This furthers a gulf between affordability constraints established in 2018 and the projected sustainment costs at steady state, or the programme's peak operating point. Estimated sustainment costs per F-35 tail per year is an important metric for determining aircraft affordability.

An F-35B aboard Her Majesty's Ship (HMS) Queen Elizabeth at sea on 10 Oct 2020. The Pentagon services buying the F-35 face nearly USD6 billion in sustainment cost overruns by 2036 that they project as unaffordable because of increasing sustainment expenditures. (3rd Marine Aircraft Wing)

By 2036 the Pentagon services buying the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) face nearly USD6 billion in sustainment cost overruns that they project as unaffordable because of increasing sustainment expenditures.

In a report released on 7 July, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) said that the F-35 Joint Program Office's (JPO's) estimated sustainment costs per aircraft, or tail, per year, for each variant, increased in 2020, except for the US Marine Corps' (USMC's) F-35C buy. This furthers a gulf between affordability constraints established in 2018 and the projected sustainment costs at steady state, or the programme's peak operating point. Estimated sustainment costs per F-35 tail per year is an important metric for determining aircraft affordability.

An F-35B aboard Her Majesty's Ship (HMS) Queen Elizabeth at sea on 10 Oct 2020. The Pentagon services buying the F-35 face nearly USD6 billion in sustainment cost overruns by 2036 that they project as unaffordable because of increasing sustainment expenditures. (3rd Marine Aircraft Wing)

By 2036 the Pentagon services buying the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) face nearly USD6 billion in sustainment cost overruns that they project as unaffordable because of increasing sustainment expenditures.

In a report released on 7 July, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) said that the F-35 Joint Program Office's (JPO's) estimated sustainment costs per aircraft, or tail, per year, for each variant, increased in 2020, except for the US Marine Corps' (USMC's) F-35C buy. This furthers a gulf between affordability constraints established in 2018 and the projected sustainment costs at steady state, or the programme's peak operating point. Estimated sustainment costs per F-35 tail per year is an important metric for determining aircraft affordability.

An F-35B aboard Her Majesty's Ship (HMS) Queen Elizabeth at sea on 10 Oct 2020. The Pentagon services buying the F-35 face nearly USD6 billion in sustainment cost overruns by 2036 that they project as unaffordable because of increasing sustainment expenditures. (3rd Marine Aircraft Wing)