The F-35 Fighter Jets Operational Issues and High Costs

A new report reveals that the F-35 fighter jets, despite being increasingly relied upon by the US and its allies, can only fly approximately 55% of the time due to maintenance issues. This falls far below the Pentagon's goal of 85% to 90% mission capability. The F-35 project is the world's most expensive defense procurement, with plans to purchase 2,000 more jets costing $1.7 trillion. Maintenance costs alone add up to $1.3 trillion. The high costs and operational challenges of the F-35 highlight the need to reevaluate expensive weapon projects and consider more cost-effective options.