70 Percent or More of F-35s May Not Be Combat Capable

A September 2023 Government Accountability Office report on the F-35 revealed some shocking statistics on just how unready F-35s are to provide combat power.

A U.S. Air Force pilot takes off in his Air Force F-35A aircraft from the 388th and 428th Fighter Wings to participate in a combat power exercise, after he formed up in an "elephant walk" exercise at Hill Air Force Base in Utah, on Jan. 6, 2020. Reuters/George Frey

Commentary

A September 2023 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on the F-35 revealed some shocking statistics on just how unready hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of F-35s are to provide actual combat power. In fact, the report indicated that only 15 percent to 30 percent of F-35s may be capable of combat.