GAO finds F-35 program lacks reliable parts records

The Department of War lacks complete records for its F-35 parts, the Government Accountability Office found in a Nov. 9 report.^1–2

over $85 millionLost parts GAO reported in 2023; status unknown to the F-35 Joint Program Office

approximately $28 millionParts losses incurred from 2012 through 2025 and submitted by a prime contractor

The F-35 Joint Program Office could not determine whether the $28 million included any of the $85 million.

Source: Government Accountability Office, GAO-27-108713, November 9, 2026. Status as of March 2026.

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The Global Support Solution Reset calls for about $13.7 billion in increased investment to meet F-35 program performance objectives, including bringing parts supplies to needed levels.²

GAO found the program’s property records inaccurate, incomplete and not reflecting real-time changes.¹ Its fiscal 2025 physical inventory used data from a prime contractor whose property management system the Defense Contract Management Agency had rated disapproved, indicating noncompliance with contract requirements.²

The parts are spread across more than 700 contractor- and government-managed facilities; contractor-managed sites hold about 30 percent.^1–2

GAO reported lost parts valued at over $85 million in 2023. As of March 2026, the F-35 Joint Program Office did not know their status.¹ By then, a prime contractor had submitted approximately $28 million in losses. The submissions covered losses incurred from 2012 through 2025, but program officials could not determine whether they included any of the earlier losses.²

The Defense Contract Management Agency has so far determined that the contractor should be held financially liable for approximately $6 million of the reported $28 million.²

The department concurred with GAO’s four recommendations covering loss monitoring and accountable property officers’ procedures, training and organizational structure; all remain open.¹