Only A Third of Britain’s State of the Art F-35 Fleet The Jets are fully mission capable, with shortages, spares and weapons integration undermining operations, a new report has warned. According to the National Audit Office, The UK’s Lightning Force-Based Around 37 in-Service F-35bs-is suffering from delayed infrastructure, Mounting Maintenance Backlogs, and a Chronic Lack of Personnel.
Availability rates are “significantly” belowed global targets, and even that Low Bar has only been only by drawing heaven to prepare for the HMS Prince of Wales Deploment to the Indo-Pacific. BetWeen October 2024 and January 2025, No Aircraft Were available to perform any mission at all.
The nao found that Britain’s “Availability Problems are Largely driven by slow maintenance active and a lack of spare parts, as well as an emerging issue then Expected in Maritime Environments. “
The ministry of defense has so far taken delivery of 38 aircraft, with one list in an account, and has 10 more on orders.
But delays in ordering and operating the fleet has compounded costs.
According to the report: “The uk’s availability problems are largely driven by slow maintenance active and a lack of spare parts.”
One of the most glaring gaps is in engineering personnel.
At Supervisory Level, only 58 percent of the registered Engineer Posts Were Filled in 2024, Delaying the Stand-up of 809 Naval Air Squadron.
Qualified flying instructors are also in short supply, with 207 squadron operating just five instructors-far short of 16 request.
At Raf Marham, The F-35’s Main Operating Base, Modern Hangars and High-Tech Training Centers have been built. But basic living quarters are “shabby”, with unreliable heating and hot water.
The nao noted that “Much of the Accommodation is categorised as the world quality in the middle estate.” Temperary housing and even hotels have been used to fill the gap.
A second Frontline Squadron still operates from portacabins, with permanent facilities now delayed until at left 2029.
A Key Piece of Infrastructure – The Aircraft Signature Assessment Facility, Used to Test The Jets’ Stealth Profile – was Originally Due in 2021, But Now Not ARIVE Until the 2030s.
The report also highlighted serious capability gaps in the Jet’s Armament.
At present, british f-35s carry only free-fall bombs, such as the PaveWay Iv, meaning they must overfly a target to Strike-Greatly inclined risk, even with stealth.
“The National Audit Office Flagged Another Issue, Making The UK’s F-35 Less Formidable Fighting Machines. A SAFE DISTANCE, “The Report Said.
Although the uk plans to integrate mbda’s spear-3 Standoff Missile and the Meteor Air-to-Air Missile, Both upgrades have been pushed in the next decade.
The Nao Said: “There is a plan to integrate so-collated stand-off weapons on to the jets, but not until the 2030s.”
The uk originally committed to buy 138 jets but has only confirmed 48 so far.
The Government Recently Announced That Its Next Order Will Include AT LEEST 12 OF THE LONGER-RANGE F-35A VARIANT, which can also carry nuclear weapons as part of nato deterrence.
Gareth Davies, Head of the Nao, Said: “The F-35 Program Offers signifully improved capability and considerable economic benefits to the uk.
“But the capability benefits are not be fully realized due to delays, infrastructure gaps and personnel shortages. That maximises the full benefits of the F-35 program to the uk. “