Maintenance costs for F-35 Lightning II fighters dropped 50% and will soon drop another 35%
Lockheed Martin has announced a significant reduction in flight costs for its sixth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter jets.
Here's What We Know
Lockheed Martin has delivered more than 825 fighter jets to 15 countries. In December 2021, the chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force, General Charles Q. Brown Jr. noted that the high cost of maintenance is one of the key problems of the F-35 aircraft. If it is not solved, the Air Force will have to either use the fighters less often or reduce the volume of purchases.
According to new information, the cost of flying the F-35 Lightning II has already fallen by about half over the past seven years. In addition, Lockheed Martin says that within the next five years, maintenance costs for the planes will be reduced by another 35%.
According to a Chamber of Accounts report, the F-35A cost the Air Force $7.8 million per flight in 2020, almost double the target cost of $4.1 million. The F-35C and F-35B for the Navy's aircraft carriers cost $9.9 million and $9.1 million, respectively, exceeding the target by about $2.5 million.
In fiscal year 2021, operating costs for the F-35 dropped to $4.1 million. F-35C and F-35B flight costs were $7.5 million and $6.8 million, respectively, according to Air Force Magazine.
Source: Air Force Magazine
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