A new GAO report finds only 44% of US F-35 jets are mission capable and just 25% can perform their full range of missions, meaning 3 in 4 are limited or grounded at any given time.
The fleet more than doubled from ~450 to 800 aircraft since 2021, overwhelming a sustainment system already plagued by software delays, spare parts shortages, and corrosion.
Fixing it will cost an additional $13.7 billion through 2031, and readiness may get worse before it improves.
Source: Air and Space Forces