Metal shavings, incorrectly assembled parts, and a plastic scraper were found in new F-35C Joint Strike Fighters delivered to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 311 at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar last year. The faults required over 700 hours of work to fix and wasted over 169,000 pounds of fuel, according to a memo written by Squadron commander Lt. Col. Michael Fisher and approved by Col. William Mitchell. The issues included fuel contamination with Krytox, metal shavings, improperly installed seals, and numerous part failures.
The F-35C is the Navy and Marine Corps variant, with each plane costing $94.4 million. The problems discovered in the five jets hampered squadron readiness and involved several failed components. Lockheed Martin, the aircraft manufacturer, stated that they are working with the Marine Corps to address concerns raised in the memo and strive for quality in their deliveries.
The F-35 Joint Program Office did not comment on the memo but mentioned that corrective actions are being taken for issues found in newly delivered jets. The Marine Corps refused to comment, citing unreleased documents, and Marine Aircraft Group 11 declined to address maintenance problems due to operational security. A former analyst suggested that the reported issues could be indicative of systemic quality problems that should be addressed promptly to avoid waste of taxpayer money and resources.
