US F-35 Program Experiences Cost Overruns, Delayed Deliveries, and Inadequate Performance

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program has experienced cost overruns, delayed deliveries, and missed timelines, according to a US Government Accountability Office (GAO) report. Despite these issues, Lockheed Martin and Pratt & Whitney have received millions in incentives. The report highlights that contractors have regularly missed deadlines, sometimes by years, and the delivery of F-35 jets in 2024 was late by an average of 238 days.

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, a cornerstone of the U.S. military's airpower, has been beset by persistent cost overruns, delayed deliveries, and missed timelines, according to a recent report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). Despite these challenges, contractors Lockheed Martin and Pratt & Whitney have continued to receive millions in incentives, raising questions about the effectiveness of these payments.

The GAO report, released in September 2025, found that the average delivery delay in 2024 was 238 days, with every F-35 delivered late. This is a significant increase from the 61 days late in 2023. The primary driver of these delays is the Technology Refresh 3 (TR-3), a $1.9 billion suite of hardware and software upgrades that are critical to the Block 4 modernization effort. The TR-3 upgrade has been plagued by cost overruns, with the program now expected to cost about $6 billion more and be finished at least five years later than initially projected [1].

The GAO report also highlighted that the structure of on-time delivery incentives has allowed contractors to deliver aircraft up to 60 days late and still earn some of the fee. This has led to criticism from some quarters, including supporters of former President Donald Trump, who argue that the jet is too expensive and becoming obsolete in the age of drone warfare.

The F-35 program, which spans three distinct variants for the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, is the world's most expensive fighter jet program. Despite the high cost and history of setbacks, the Pentagon still plans to buy around 2,500 aircraft, with American allies continuing to place orders for the fifth-generation fighter [2].

In recent years, the program has paid contractors hundreds of millions of dollars in incentive fees intended to improve on-time delivery. However, the GAO report suggests that these fees may not be effectively aligned with desired production outcomes. The report recommends that the program reevaluate its use of fees in future contracts to better hold contractors accountable for on-time delivery [3].

The GAO's findings are likely to add fuel to the ongoing debate about the F-35 program's future. While the program continues to face significant challenges, it remains a critical component of the U.S. military's airpower capabilities. As the program moves forward, it will be important to address the issues highlighted in the GAO report and ensure that the F-35 remains a viable and effective asset for the U.S. and its allies.

References:
[1] https://www.businessinsider.com/f-35-stealth-fighter-deliveries-have-been-falling-behind-watchdog-2025-9
[2] https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-25-107632
[3] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-09-03/f-35-continues-to-over-promise-under-deliver-gao-says-in-new-review