Opdatering: GAO finder problemer med F-35 omkostninger og teknologi i ny rapport

En amerikansk triservice-formation af US Air Force F-35A (lead), US Marine Corps F-35B og US Navy F-35C. (US Air Force)

Den 30. maj udgav US Government Accountability Office (GAO) en rapport om Lockheed Martin F-35, der fandt, at programmet ikke tilstrækkeligt har forklaret en omkostningsstigning på 13.4 milliarder USD siden 2019, som den opgraderede Block 4-version er løbet ind i. tekniske problemer og en omkostningsstigning på 1 mia. USD, og ​​at det amerikanske forsvarsministerium (DoD) ikke har fuldt definerede krav til en opgradering af motorkølesystemet.

The USD13.4 billion increase is because of greater acquisition costs, the GAO wrote. “The programme attributes the increased procurement cost to additional years of costs related to airframe and engine production, along with support costs for equipment, technical data, and training,” the GAO wrote. “According to programme officials, the programme is deferring the delivery of these 215 aircraft to later years at the request of the air force.” F-35 development costs have increased by a total of USD21.1 billion between 2012 and 2021, the GAO found. The programme’s total 77-year lifespan cost now hovers around USD1.7 trillion.