Posodobitev: GAO v novem poročilu ugotavlja težave s stroški in tehnologijo F-35

Ameriška trodelna formacija F-35A ameriških zračnih sil (vodja), F-35B ameriške mornarice in F-35C ameriške mornarice. (Zračne sile ZDA)

Urad ZDA za odgovornost vlade (GAO) je 30. maja objavil poročilo o Lockheed Martin F-35, v katerem je ugotovil, da program ni ustrezno razložil povečanja stroškov za 13.4 milijarde USD od leta 2019, na kar je naletela nadgrajena različica bloka 4. tehnične težave in povečanje stroškov za milijardo USD ter da ameriško ministrstvo za obrambo (DoD) ni v celoti opredelilo zahtev za nadgradnjo hladilnega sistema motorja.

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.