Pentagon cannot account for millions in F-35 parts, GAO finds

New watchdog report says the Defense Department still does not know the status of over 1 million parts flagged three years ago, as the F-35 program faces persistent readiness and inventory problems.

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Published9 November 2026

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The Pentagon is unable to reliably account for more than 1 million F-35 fighter jet parts worth over $85 million, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office. The watchdog agency said the F-35 Joint Program Office still does not know the status of parts it flagged in 2023, and cannot determine whether more recent losses include any of those previously identified.

The GAO released the report on Monday, identifying persistent problems in how the Department of Defense and its contractors manage spare parts for the F-35 Lightning II, the most expensive weapon system program in history. The Pentagon owns roughly $31 billion worth of F-35 parts, spread across more than 700 government- and contractor-managed facilities.

At the centre of the problem is the F-35 program’s Enterprise Logistics Management System, which the GAO said pulls data from a mix of sources and does not reflect real-time changes. The system cannot connect directly to prime contractors’ own systems, making it difficult for the JPO to account for parts.

As of March 2026, the program had not entered about 17,000 parts worth $1.3 billion into its official system as undergoing maintenance or repair. Officials told the GAO that the value could be as high as $2.5 billion when transportation and overhead are included.

“The data are not reliable for asset accountability or financial reporting,” the GAO report said. “Timely and accurate data on F-35 parts are also important to ensure that the F-35 program is positioned to meet the needs of the warfighter.”

The F-35 Joint Program Office has spent at least $17 million since 2020 on physical inventories of parts, but those efforts have not adequately resolved the issues. The report said the Pentagon will not have accurate information on location, value or quantity until direct interfaces with contractors’ systems are established and effective validation procedures are implemented.

The Defense Department concurred with the GAO’s recommendations. A spokesperson for the JPO said the office is developing program-specific procedures and tailored training for Accountable Property Officers, alongside a detailed plan to structure the APO program.

The report warned that unreliable inventory records could make it difficult to determine which parts the program needs and in what quantities. The Defense Department launched a $13.7 billion readiness plan last year aimed at improving aircraft availability by the end of the decade. The mission-capable rate, the time an aircraft is available to perform one mission, fell from 67% to 44% between fiscal years 2021 and 2025, while the full mission-capable rate dropped from 38% to 25%.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

The F-35 is the most expensive weapons program in history and its readiness depends on spare parts availability.
Unreliable inventory records could lead to parts shortages, reducing mission capability and potentially increasing costs for maintenance and procurement.
The issue affects not only the US military but also allied nations that operate the F-35.

Background

The F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter is a family of stealth combat aircraft developed by Lockheed Martin for the US and allied militaries. The program has long faced criticism over cost overruns, maintenance problems, and readiness shortfalls. As of 2026, the Pentagon owns roughly 26 million F-35 parts worth an estimated $31 billion. The GAO, a congressional watchdog agency, has previously flagged parts accountability issues.

Key Perspectives

Government Accountability Office: Says the Pentagon cannot reliably track F-35 parts due to data system failures, and that "the data are not reliable for asset accountability or financial reporting."

F-35 Joint Program Office: Concurred with the GAO's recommendations and said it is developing procedures and training for accountable property officers, alongside a plan to improve the inventory program.

What to Watch

Whether the JPO's planned actions result in verifiable improvements in parts tracking by the next GAO audit.
The impact of parts accountability on F-35 mission-capable rates, which have already fallen sharply.
Possible additional costs from the $13.7 billion readiness plan if inventory records fail to clarify which parts are needed.

Sources

The Pentagon has $31 billion in F-35 parts. A watchdog says it can't reliably keep track of them. · Business Insider