More problems for the costly F-35 jet: Another just fell from the sky
A pilot in Alaska safely ejected from an aircraft on Tuesday before it plummeted to the Earth, culminating in a fiery explosion at an Air Force base that was captured in dramatic video footage.
It was the latest crash involving the F-35 stealth fighter jet, the military's most expensive weapon system that has been credited with revolutionizing modern American warfare but has also gained a reputation for its setbacks, high costs and safety concerns.
Officials have not said what exactly led to Tuesday's crash, only that the pilot experienced an "in-flight malfunction." The accident mirrors several similar crashes in recent years in which pilots were forced to eject from the stealth fighters.
Last May, a pilot in New Mexico was seriously injured after he ejected from an F-35 before the fighter jet crashed near an airfield in Albuquerque's main airport. In September 2023, a pilot ejected from an F-35 and parachuted into a backyard in Charleston, South Carolina. The jet flew unmanned for several minutes before it crashed into a field some 60 miles away.
The manufacturer of the jet's ejection system used Tuesday's accident to brag about its reliability: "The pilot successfully ejected using the Martin-Baker US16E seat. This was the 10th successful ejection from the F-35," said a post from the official X account of Martin-Baker, the British manufacturing company.
The F-35 program is estimated to top at least $2 trillion over the coming decades, the U.S. Government Accountability Office said in a report last year, citing the U.S. Department of Defense.
Meanwhile, delays and high prices associated with the military's F-35 program has drawn the ire of President Donald Trump and his ally Elon Musk.
Before becoming president, Donald Trump tweeted in 2016 that the F-35 program’s “cost is out of control,” promising he would rein costs in once he took office. More recently, Musk ‒ who Trump tapped last year to co-lead the Department of Government Efficiency ‒ took aim at the program, raising questions about the fighter jet's future.
"The F-35 design was broken at the requirements level, because it was required to be too many things to too many people. This made it an expensive & complex jack of all trades, master of none," Musk said in a post on X in November. "Success was never in the set of possible outcomes. And manned fighter jets are obsolete in the age of drones anyway. Will just get pilots killed."
In a statement, the F-35's manufacturer Lockheed Martin said "As we did in his first term, we look forward to a strong working relationship with President Trump, his team, and also with the new Congress to strengthen our national defense."
The major defense manufacturer says the F-35 "is the most advanced, survivable and connected fighter aircraft in the world, a vital deterrent and the cornerstone of joint all-domain operations."
Brief history of the F-35
The F-35 was unveiled in 2006 but it was not used in military operations until 2015, when the Marine Corps declared it mission ready.
The fifth-generation fighter made waves with its ability to fly stealthily past enemy radar and defense systems. A mapping system also allows it to accurately direct its own missiles – or those from other planes, ships, submarines or ground stations – to targets they’ve identified while airborne.
There are three variants of the F-35 for different branches of the military: F-35A for the Air Force, F-35B for the Marines and F-35C for the Navy. The F-35B can take off and land vertically, similarly to a helicopter.
Last May, the U.S. Government Accountability Office estimated there were about 630 F-35s across the military and plans to buy about 1,800 more by the mid-2040s.
But, as recently as 2023, the percentage of fighters ready for use was about 55%, according to the nonpartisan government agency that provides reports and guidance to Congress and heads of executive agencies.
F-35 plagued by manufacturing delays, soaring costs
In a report to congressional committees, the watchdog agency said last year that the Department of Defense planned to spend over $2 trillion to buy, operate and maintain F-35s through 2088.
In May 2023, the Government Accountability Office said the jet was more than a decade behind schedule and $183 billion over original estimates. Costs to maintain the fleet have increased 44%, from $1.1 trillion in 2018 to $1.58 trillion in 2023, the agency said.
The increased costs and delays are, in part, to keep up with emerging technology.
The Department of Defense in recent years has pursued a $16.5 billion modernization effort to outfit the jets with better radar, weapons and technology systems, according to the Government Accountability Office. The program has also worked to upgrade its engine to add some additional power and prevent it from overheating.
The military is using F-35s less these days
The military plans to use the fighters less often, mostly as a cost saving measure.
Over the course of the last few years, the Air Force and Navy have reduced their projected annual flying times by 19% and 45%, respectively, the GOA said in a report to congressional committees. The U.S. Marines have also announced reductions in F-35 flying times.
"In part because of this reduction in flying, the services are now projecting they will meet most of their affordability targets," the agency said.
There was another main factor ensuring military services would hit affordability goals: "the Air Force increased its affordability target from $4.1 million per aircraft per year to $6.8 million per aircraft per year," according to the Government Accountability Office.
(This story was updated to add additional information.)
Contributing: Eduardo Cuevas, Paste BN; Reuters