This GAO report makes clear that F-35 sustainment is under the absolute control of contractors, that Pentagon doesn't know how to grab back control, and that sustainement is currently a shambles, with costs rising and availability dropping fast
The latest GAO stats show a fast degradation of F-35 availability, and full mission-capable rates have dropped to near zero.
AO says the Pentagon "Does Not Have a Clear Pathway to Transition to More Government Sustainment."
Hi
Czech Air Force (and Polish, Finnish, Swiss to name but a few), want to consider how availability rates for US F-35s are falling, costs are rising. and then want to think whether the US taxpayer will want to to sweat F-35 exports to pay its own bills?
Spoiler alert: they will.
Pretty much everything the JPO (and US industry) told you about F-35 costs was, well, a lie.
This estimable @USGAO notes that US F-35 sustainment costs have risen $68bn over the past 2-3yrs.
If the USAF can't get F-35 spares, do you think you'll be at the front of the queue?