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Pentagon Seeks $13.7B Boost for F-35 Sustainment

June 1, 2026

2 min read

Key Takeaways

Pentagon seeks $13.7 billion to boost F-35 sustainment.
F-35 full mission capable rate declined to 25% in FY25.
Mission capability rate fell to 44% over the same period.
F-35 Joint Program Office launched Global Support Solution Reset.

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Strategic Implications

The F-35's declining readiness rates may indicate ongoing challenges in sustainment, which could impact the program's long-term viability. The additional funding sought by the Pentagon suggests a significant investment in addressing these issues, but may not be enough to overcome industrial base capacity constraints and competing priorities among military services.

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What Happened

F-35 Readiness Rates Decline Despite Years of Effort

The Pentagon is seeking an additional $13.7 billion to boost sustainment of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, whose readiness rates continue to decline despite years of concerted effort. According to a new report from the Government Accountability Office, the F-35’s full mission capable rate dipped from 38 percent in fiscal 2021 to 25 percent in FY25, while its mission capability rate fell from 67 percent to 44 percent over the same period. The F-35 Joint Program Office has launched a Global Support Solution Reset to address these challenges, but the effort faces multiple risks, including funding gaps and industrial base capacity constraints. This was first reported by Breaking Defense.

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