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Pentagon's F-35 Jets Grounded: $1.7B Paid, No Accountability

12/24/2025

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Summary

Story summary

The Defense Department's Office of the Inspector General found that U.S. F-35 jets were available to fly 50% of the time in 2024, 17 points below the minimum, due to maintenance issues by Lockheed Martin.
The Pentagon paid Lockheed Martin $1.7 billion without adjusting for the jets' poor performance.
The report criticized the Pentagon for failing to enforce contract requirements and for not holding Lockheed Martin accountable.

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Story summary

The Defense Department's Office of the Inspector General found that U.S. F-35 jets were available to fly 50% of the time in 2024, 17 points below the minimum, due to maintenance issues by Lockheed Martin.
The Pentagon paid Lockheed Martin $1.7 billion without adjusting for the jets' poor performance.
The report criticized the Pentagon for failing to enforce contract requirements and for not holding Lockheed Martin accountable.