F-35 Joint Strike Fighter: Assessment Needed to Address Affordability Challenges
Abstract
With estimated acquisition costs of nearly $400 billion, the F-35 Lightning II also known as the Joint Strike Fighter is DOD's most costly and ambitious acquisition program. The U.S. portion of the program will require annual acquisition funding of $12.4 billion on average through 2038 to complete development and procure a total of 2,457 aircraft. GAO s prior work has found that the program has experienced significant cost, schedule, and performance problems. In 2009, Congress mandated that GAO review the F-35 acquisition program annually for 6 years. This report, GAO's sixth, assesses the program's (1) development and testing progress, (2) cost and affordability, and (3) manufacturing and supply chain performance. GAO reviewed and analyzed the latest available manufacturing, cost, testing, and performance data through December 2014; program test plans; and internal DOD analyses; and interviewed DOD, program, engine and aircraft contractor officials. GAO recommends that DOD assess the affordability of F-35 s current procurement plan that reflects various assumptions about technical progress and future funding.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2015
- Accession Number
- ADA617188
Entities
People
- Abby Volk
- James M Bennett
- Kristine Hassinger
- Marie Suding
- Marvin Bonner
- Megan L. Porter
- Michael Sullivan
- Peter Anderson
- Travis Masters
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office