The issue directly concerns countries that have selected the F-35, including Greece, Poland, Italy, and Japan
A revealing report by the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) raises serious questions regarding the management of the most expensive weapons program in US history. The Pentagon is unable to reliably track 26 million spare parts for the F-35 stealth fighters, while the fate of components valued at over 85 million dollars remains unaccounted for.
Unbelievable fiasco in the US: Billions in spare parts without reliable oversight
Serious weaknesses in the supply system of American F-35 stealth fighters are revealed by a new GAO report, published on November 9, 2026. According to official data, the Pentagon manages approximately 26 million components with a total value of 31 billion dollars, which are scattered across more than 700 facilities worldwide. The problem is that American tracking systems exhibit severe deficiencies, inaccuracies, and update delays. This does not mean that all 26 million spare parts have been lost, but rather that the Pentagon lacks a complete and reliable picture of their location and condition.
Over one million components vanished: The 85-million-dollar mystery
The most alarming finding concerns more than one million spare parts, valued at over 85 million dollars, for which losses were recorded during the 2018-2022 period. The new investigation found that, as of March 2026, the responsible F-35 program office was still unable to determine the status of these losses. In fact, since 2020, at least 17 million dollars have been spent on physical inventories without achieving full verification of stockpiles. Auditors warn that the lack of effective oversight increases the risk of financial waste, fraud, and potential theft, without this meaning it has been proven that all missing components were stolen.
Collapse in F-35 availability: The alarming percentages
The matter takes on even greater significance due to the operational readiness issues the fleet is already facing. According to data presented by the EurAsian Times, F-35 mission-capable availability dropped from 67% in fiscal year 2021 to just 44% in 2025. Even worse is the picture regarding full mission capability, which retreated from 38% to 25%. Simply put, a significant portion of the fleet was unable to perform the full range of missions for which it was designed. Problematic spare parts tracking is not the sole cause of this situation, yet it complicates the scheduling of maintenance and repairs.
1.9 trillion dollar program in trouble: Alarm for allies as well
The F-35 constitutes the most expensive weapons program in the history of the US Department of Defense, with its total estimated lifecycle cost exceeding 1.9 trillion dollars. The program's massive international supply chain creates additional difficulties, as components constantly move between suppliers, warehouses, and maintenance facilities. The problem directly concerns countries that have selected the F-35, including Greece, Poland, Italy, and Japan. The GAO called for stricter control procedures, better loss recording, and personnel training. The US Department of Defense agreed with the report's four recommendations.
The great paradox: The most advanced fighters, yet they do not know where the spare parts are
The Pentagon has invested massive sums to create one of the most advanced fighter aircraft in the world. However, the technological superiority of a stealth fighter is not enough if engineers do not have timely access to the necessary components for its maintenance. The report's biggest warning concerns not only the millions of dollars being lost, but the risk of having ultra-expensive fighters available on paper without being able to take off when truly needed. And for the US, which bases a significant part of its future air power on the F-35, this constitutes a problem with serious strategic implications.
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