Troubling technical discrepancies, including metal shavings in fuel and incorrectly installed components, have recently surfaced in new F-35C Joint Strike Fighters assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps’ VMFA-311 squadron. A memo obtained by a defense news outlet has disclosed a series of manufacturing faults that have caused significant concern within the military aviation community and brought Lockheed Martin’s production quality into question.
The F-35C, primarily utilized by the Navy and Marine Corps for its ability to operate off aircraft carriers with its foldable wingtips, stands as a pinnacle of advanced aviation technology. However, the discovery of various faults has imposed over 700 hours of additional repair work and led to the waste of more than 169,000 pounds of fuel for the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 311, based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, San Diego.
Lockheed Martin has responded to the concerns outlined in the memo, asserting its commitment to quality and stating its collaboration with the Marine Corps, the government’s F-35 Joint Program Office, and the Defense Contract Management Agency to resolve the problems. The company also pointed out that F-35 parts typically last twice as long as those on fourth-generation jets.
Lt. Col. Fisher has suggested establishing a direct line of communication between the F-35 Joint Program Office, Lockheed Martin, and the accepting units for a more effective resolution of issues.
Among the defects, one of the more egregious finds was a plastic scraper protruding from the wing fold of an aircraft after it had flown, which highlights the potential for overlooked safety hazards.
The squadron’s commander, Lt. Col. Michael Fisher, expressed his frustration in the memo, emphasizing that the “number of failed components, expended man-hours and lost sorties is unacceptable to maintain a baseline level of proficiency and consistency at the operational level. An F-35 ready room and maintenance department needs to believe in the quality and production of each F-35 aircraft.”
The memo further lists several premature component failures, such as issues with power and thermal management system controllers, electronic units, a leaking backup oxygen system bottle, and a malfunctioning panoramic cockpit display. These defects necessitated removing and replacing entire assemblies, adding to the squadron’s burdens.
Nonetheless, the reported issues are not isolated to the Tomcats. Another Marine Corps unit, VMFA-542, had to conduct repairs on four F-35Bs shortly after they arrived, hinting at a wider problem within the F-35 production line. As more than 980 units of the F-35 have been delivered to multiple countries, with some facing long delays, the focus on production quality is critical to maintaining both national and international defense commitments.
Relevant articles:
– Marine unit found metal shavings in F-35 fuel, plastic tool in wing , Defense News, 04/30/2024
– F-35: The Fighter Jet Every Air Force Wants (But with Flaws), The National Interest Online, Mon, 29 Apr 2024 14:21:30 GMT