UK’s F-35 Fleet Falters

Britain's F-35 stealth jets are struggling, grounded for two-thirds of missions due to shortages of spare parts and personnel, says a National Audit Office report. This failure is putting a significant dent in Britain’s defense capabilities, with fleet costs possibly soaring to £71 billion, vastly over initial estimates. Despite the issues, the program provides economic gains as UK firms manufacture a sizable portion of the jets, although the capability benefits remain unrealized due to ongoing challenges. The delay affects critical milestones, pushing back full operational capabilities by years and exposing infrastructure and personnel gaps.