F-35/JSF Aircraft Cost Approaching $1 Trillion Mark

Information released by the US Government Accountability Office on the 11^th March revealed that the cost associated with acquiring and operating the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lighting II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) within three branches of the US armed forces is approaching $1 trillion.

In a report, the GAO commented on how the JSF programme was beset by delays, cost increases and manufacturing issues. Just since 2007, it said, JSF costs have increased by $23 billion.

JSF to be Operated by USMC, US Navy, US Air Force

The JSF is to be operated by the US Marine Corps, US Navy and US Air Force. According to the report, almost $300 billion is required to purchase the 2,458 airframes destined for service, while $650 billion more is required for operations and for maintenance purposes.

Previously, the operating costs had been forecast to be $346 billion. Since that time, repair plans have been altered, depot maintenance costs have changed and the price of fuel has gone up - all factors that have contributed to the increase.

Those behind the report said they expected that the costs associated with buying/flying the JSF to yet "increase substantially", and for "pressures to worsen based on performance to date."

"The contractor has extended manufacturing schedules several times, but test aircraft delivery dates continue to slip," they wrote.

"The flight test program has barely begun, but faces substantial risks with reduced assets as design and manufacturing problems continue to cause delays that further compress the time available to complete development."

In comments quoted by news agency AP, John Smith, spokesman for Lockheed, stated that the firm does "not know the basis for the GAO estimates and until we receive and analyze their data we will be unable to comment on them."

JSF to be Built in Conventional, STOVL, Carrier Variants

The JSF will be available in a number of different versions, optimised for its intended environment. In US Air Force service, a Conventional version will take over from the Fairchild-Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II, and the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon. The US Marine Corps, meanwhile, is to use a version with STOVL (Short Takeoff - Vertical Landing) capabilities, which will replace the McDonnell-Douglas AV-8B Harrier II and F/A18C/D Hornet.

Finally, a Carrier Variant will enter US Navy service.

The Royal Navy plans to acquire 36 examples of the JSF although, earlier this year, it emerged that these will not be ready by 2014 as planned.

Source - Armed Forces International's Aviation Expert

F-35 Image courtesy of Lockheed Martin

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Further Resources:

F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter

JSF: Production on Track