The Naval Air Station Lemoore in California is home to the U.S. Navy’s largest jet base, where F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and F-35C Joint Strike Fighters are maintained and deployed for training and deployment preparations. The Navy and a government oversight group have expressed concerns about the availability and cost of sustaining the F-35C aircraft as the fleet expands in Lemoore. Lockheed Martin plays a significant role in the maintenance, planning, and management of the F-35 program, leaving the services with little control over their own readiness.
In 2018, then-Defense Secretary Jim Mattis ordered military branches to achieve an 80% mission-capable rate for all fighters by fiscal 2019. The Navy adopted a data-driven approach to analyze processes, supply practices, and facilities, which led to surpassing the 80% readiness goal. The Navy’s F-35C community has recorded higher readiness rates and fewer aircraft awaiting supply parts compared to the global F-35 fleet average.
A Government Accountability Office report highlighted failures in Joint Strike Fighter maintenance in terms of spare parts availability, operational-level maintenance challenges, and slow depot repair times. The F-35 program’s unique maintenance setup places significant responsibility on manufacturer Lockheed Martin and the Joint Program Office, limiting the services’ control over improving the supply system and maintenance processes. Efforts are underway in Lemoore to adopt proven operational-level maintenance practices from the F/A-18 fleet to enhance readiness and lower costs for the F-35C aircraft.
