Common Findings
¶ Common Findings Across All Operator Nations
Note on cost basis: All USD amounts from US government sources (GAO, CBO, DoD) in this article are expressed in Base Year 2012 Dollars (BY2012$). Adjusted for inflation to 2026, actual values are approximately 40–50% higher.
¶ Operating Costs Higher Than Projected Everywhere
Sustainment cost estimates increased by 44% between 2018 and 2023: from $1.1 trillion to ) (GAO-24-106703). On December 12, 2025, the Federal Council decided to reduce the order due to cost increases of CHF 650 million to 1.3 billion (Breaking Defense, 2025; Army Recognition, 2025).
¶ Spare Parts Shortages
A systemic problem: in early 2025, over 4,000 missing parts, 52 aircraft idle on the final assembly line, all 123 F135 engines in 2024 delivered late (GAO-25-107632).
¶ Software Dependency (ALIS/ODIN)
All operators depend on a US-controlled logistics system. ODIN addresses hardware issues (75% smaller, 50% faster processing) but does not resolve the sovereignty problem (Breaking Defense, 2021). Only Israel has substantial software autonomy.
¶ Sensor Fusion as the Greatest Advantage
Despite all the problems, sensor fusion is rated as a game changer by all operators. Israeli combat missions from 2018 to 2024 validated sensor fusion under real-world conditions. The F-35 has accumulated over one million flight hours and operates from 48 bases in 10 countries.