GAO Advocates Separate Program for F-35 Engine Upgrades

The F-35 aircraft program, which faces a cost overrun of $183 billion and is more than a decade behind schedule, needs greater congressional oversight, the agency said.

Jonathan Welsh

Thursday, June 01, 2023 at 04:16 PM ET

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The GAO recommended greater oversight of the F-35 program. [CREDIT: USAF]

Key Takeaways:

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recommends the Department of Defense (DoD) manage the F-35 Block 4 modernization program separately from the main F-35 budget to enhance congressional oversight and identify escalating costs.
The Block 4 program's costs have dramatically increased from $10.6 billion in 2018 to $16.5 billion by August 2021, contributing to the F-35's overall status of being over a decade behind schedule and $183 billion over original estimates.
The GAO also highlights issues with the F-35's inadequate cooling system, which causes engines to operate beyond design parameters, leading to increased wear, reduced lifespan, and an estimated $38 billion in additional maintenance, with planned upgrades risking limited congressional oversight.

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The Government Accountability Office wants the Department of Defense to manage a modernization program for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, known as Block 4, separately from the rest of the F-35 budget. Doing so would make it easier for Congress to identify and analyze cost increases that have plagued the aircraft, the GAO said in a recent report.

According to the GAO, the effort to upgrade the F-35’s capabilities has been in development for five years, and during that time the program’s cost has risen from $10.6 billion in 2018 to $16.5 billion in August 2021. Costs rose by more than $1 billion just from June to August 2021, the GAO said.