Delays in development of Pentagon's most expensive weapons system deepen | National

(The Center Square) – Contractors behind the Pentagon's most expensive weapons system continue to deliver engines and planes late, a trend that has worsened in recent years, according to a new report.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office, which serves as Congress' research arm, found that delivery delays were partly caused by manufacturing problems and a shortage of parts for the department's F-35 Lightning II. of Defense, a stealth fighter.

The F-35 Lightning II is the most advanced and expensive weapons system in the US arsenal. The Pentagon estimates that the purchase, operation and maintenance of the F-35 program will cost more than $2 trillion over its lifespan. The program was already late.

“However, the program also fell more than a decade behind schedule and cost $209 billion more than originally planned,” according to the GAO. report.

Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor for the F-35 and Pratt & Whitney is the prime engine prime contractor. The F-35 program completed initial operational testing and reached full-rate production in March 2024. Almost everything the two contractors delivered in 2023 was late.

“The program continues to experience production delays,” according to the report. “Specifically, contractors delivered all engines and almost all aircraft by the end of 2023.”

Pratt & Whitney did not deliver any engines on time in 2023. Most were on average more than two months late. In 2022, the average delay was one month. Defense Contract Management Agency officials said hardware problems were to blame for engine delivery delays over the past year. Late engine deliveries have not yet affected aircraft production due to a buffer stock of engines, the report said.

Lockheed Martin delivered 91% of aircraft by the end of 2023. This is the highest proportion of late deliveries in the last six years and is almost double the percentage of late deliveries in 2022, according to the report. The report cites a shortage of parts and manufacturing problems, among other problems.

The cost of the F-35 program has increased. Specifically, sustainment cost estimates increased by 44%, from about $1.1 trillion in 2018 to about $1.58 trillion in 2023. One reason for the increase in sustainment cost estimates costs is the extension of the life of the aircraft. The Pentagon plans to use the F-35 until 2088.