U.S. Criticizes low Combat Readiness of F-35A: Half of Jets Unable to Fly

American senators are demanding that the U.S. Air Force command immediately addressed the critical situation regarding the technical condition and maintenance costs of F-35A fighter jets.

Defence One reported on this.

According to a government audit, the senators expressed dissatisfaction with the low combat readiness of F-35A fighters, which ranges from 51% to 71% depending on the year, as well as significant issues with their technical support.

In March 2023, the F-35 fleet had 55% mission-capable aircraft. In 2024, this figure increased to 67.1%, but by 2025, it had dropped again to around 51–52%.

The Senate placed primary blame for the decline in readiness on the Air Combat Command and the Pacific Air Forces, which, according to lawmakers, have failed to properly coordinate with the Pentagon and the manufacturer to address the issue of grounded aircraft.

This concern is primarily linked to China’s increasingly aggressive actions in the Pacific region, where F-35A is expected to play a key role. Separately, the senators addressed the issue of the Air Force’s strategic reorientation – one of the efforts aimed at preparing for a ‘major conflict,’ primarily with China, where the current state of the aircraft is considered critical.

Criticism was also directed at Lockheed Martin, the company regularly delivering aircraft later than scheduled and without the necessary upgrades. This only increases the cost of subsequent maintenance and technical support.

“We need to invest in technical support to ensure that the necessary parts are in stock when the aircraft is scheduled to fly. The problem with F-35 is that we currently have to wait for the delivery of each individual part – during all that time, the jet just sits idle,” said U.S. Air Force General David Allvin.

According to official reports, the U.S. Air Force operates around 5,000 aircraft of various types, with F-35A accounting for approximately 400 to 470 units. This means they make up about 8–10% of the total fleet.

Although they make up less than one-tenth of all aircraft, the F-35s are expected to play a key role in current and future operations due to their stealth capabilities and versatility.

It is worth noting that the main operational issues with F-35 are related to maintenance, shortages of spare parts, delays in undergoing major repairs, and a high dependence on subcontractors.

In its findings, the government audit emphasizes that the Pentagon, together with the manufacturer Lockheed Martin, has failed to establish a stable technical support system, resulting in a significant number of aircraft remaining grounded while waiting for necessary repairs.

Militarnyi previously reported that the maintenance of fifth-generation F-35A Lightning II fighters would cost Poland approximately $1.85 billion.