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 GAO recommends that the Department of Defense manage the F-35 Block 4 modernization program separately to allow Congress to better track and analyze its significant cost increases, which have jumped from $10.6 billion to $16.5 billion.
The Block 4 cost overruns exacerbate existing problems with the F-35 program, which is already over a decade behind schedule and $183 billion over original cost estimates.
A critical issue is the F-35's inadequate engine and cooling system, leading to premature wear, reduced engine lifespan, and an estimated $38 billion in additional maintenance costs.
The GAO also expressed concern that planned engine upgrades would limit congressional oversight, noting that the DOD only partially concurred or did not concur with several of its seven recommendations.

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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.