Cost and Reliability Crisis (USA)

¶ B4. Cost and Reliability Crisis (USA)

¶ Update through 6 September 2026

GAO, 11 June 2026: US fleet mission-capable time (at least one mission) fell from 67% in fiscal 2021 to 44% in 2025; fully mission-capable time (all missions) fell from 38% to 25%. These are US fleet measures, not Swiss readiness figures. The GSS Reset needs an estimated additional USD 13.7 billion through fiscal 2031. Parts capacity and contract incentives remain risks. GAO-26-108113 · GAO PDF

¶ Historical archive

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.

¶ Key Figures

• Total programme costs: over USD 2 trillion (BY2012$; lifecycle until 2088)
• Block 4 costs: 10.6 -> 16.5 billion USD (BY2012$; +56%)
• Availability rate F-35A: 51.9% (target: 65%)
• Full Mission Capable Rate F-35A: 36.4%
• Delivery delay 2024: 238 days average
• 475 of 830 open manufacturer deviations (as of March 2025)

¶ Media Reports

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