A new defense budget proposal currently under discussion in the U.S. Congress allocates billions of dollars for the next-generation F-47 program, intended to replace the F-35 fighter jets. However, the performance and cost of the F-35s currently in use are raising serious concerns about the justification for this new investment.
The F-35 Lightning II stands as the most expensive defense project in the history of the U.S. Department of Defense. Yet, a report published by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) in April 2024 reveals that despite the high cost, the program is plagued by significant issues related to efficiency and reliability. According to the report, the F-35 has failed to meet expected flight hours, while maintenance costs continue to rise. The U.S. military plans to keep the F-35 in service until 2088, with total acquisition and maintenance costs projected to exceed $2 trillion over that period.
Although GAO data indicates that the F-35 has met some of its technical objectives, its combat readiness remains below expectations in many areas. While reducing flight hours has helped meet certain financial goals, it is considered a serious handicap in terms of operational effectiveness.
According to the 2026 budget proposal, $8.5 billion is allocated for the F-35 program, $2.2 billion for modernization efforts, and $3.2 billion for the development of the F-47. However, the latest report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) paints an even bleaker picture, stating that the F-35 not only ages poorly but also fails to deliver a clear advantage over the aircraft it was meant to replace. The report states: “As the F-35s age, their combat readiness and operational use have declined. Their readiness rates are lower than other fighter jets of the same age—sometimes significantly lower.”
Criticism of the F-35 is not limited to official institutions. Elon Musk has frequently described the aircraft as “expensive, complex, and mediocre at everything,” even calling it “the worst military investment in history.”
In contrast, former President Donald Trump continues to defend the F-35, referring to it as “the best fighter jet in the world.” He announced that development of its successor, the F-47, would begin in March 2025 and that the aircraft would be built and flown before the end of its operational timeline in January 2029.
