Why we know F-35 support costs will fall in the future:
The explanation is that Switzerland and the dozen other allies purchasing F-35 have a more balanced understanding of the program than GAO does.
I should mention up front that my think tank receives funding from several of the biggest industry players on the program, including airframe prime contractor Lockheed Martin and engine prime contractor Pratt & Whitney.GAO says that the supply chain for spare parts is a key impediment to lowering support costs. That’s true, but it results from the fact that spare parts have been under-funded and the fighter is not yet mature.
These issues will gradually disappear as all F-35s are modified to the latest configuration, substantially reducing the need for diverse parts and software support.The Air Force faces a bigger affordability challenge than the sea services in operating its version of F-35, the most common variant of the fighter. However, Air Force maintenance and support procedures for the fighter are in their infancy, and costs per plane are predictably elevated.
F-35 was conceived to be the most maintainable tactical aircraft in the world, and one facet of that effort was the creation of a global network to report sustainment information. This system collects data from every F-35 in the force, which ODIN will be able to analyze to maximum effect. So sustainment data will be better utilized in the future—assuming Congress stops slashing funding for the new system.
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