DELIVERIES of the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter have resumed after a clash between the Pentagon and Lockheed Martin over who pays to repair problems afflicting many of those already in service.

The company confirmed earlier this week that the stealth fighter was once again rolling off the production lines, with new deliveries being made to its US and international clients.

But who is responsible for the repair bill remains unknown.

And the incomplete nature of many existing F-35 stealth fighters is reportedly presenting real issues for pilots training to fly the advanced aircraft in combat.

Military.com reports the training unit at Eglin air force Base in Florida has its F-35s on ‘life support’ and is struggling to meet training requirements.

QUALITY CONTROL
The issue emerged in March when the need to make quality control fixes to some 200 F-35s already delivered was raised.

While the nature of the new problems are being kept secret, a similar delivery shutdown was initiated last year after it was the corrosion of joints between the aircraft’s radar-absorbing composite panels and the aluminium structure was discovered.

Lockheed Martin was found responsible for not applying a specified corrosion-prevention treatment.

Reuters reports a Lockheed Martin spokesman this week refused to comment on whether it was their company or customers who will conduct the new repairs — or pay for them.

Lockheed spokesman Mike Friedman said: “While we don’t discuss specific cost figures and contracting terms, we have a comprehensive plan in place to effectively and efficiently address the F-35 hole primer issue.”

The Pentagon was equally vague.

“The F-35 Joint Program Office, along with the US services, international allies and Lockheed Martin, have implemented a comprehensive corrective action plan to make the necessary repairs to all aircraft while minimising impact to operations,” a statement reads. “The majority of aircraft will be complete within 24 months with the remaining aircraft completed as their availabilities/modification timing allows.”

HANGAR QUEENS
The commander of the 33rd Fighter Wing which is training pilots in the F-35 told Military.com reports that it needs more aircraft and considerable upgrades to those it has.

Colonel Paul Moga said his unit had been forced to find workarounds to give its trainee pilots necessary time in the air.

“We are at the end of our rope as far as finding creative ways to generate more sorties in the same amount of daylight with the same aircraft, because you run the risk [of overrunning the fleet and breaking it],” Moga said.

Many of the fighters being used by the 33rd Wing are early production models, completed before many technical challenges had been solved. The issue is now both a lack of aircraft, and a lack of availability among the aircraft it has, he said.

“It stresses the system. Every single day we are maximum-performing in regards to the amount of student training that we do,” Moga said. “Everybody’s aware that that fleet is on life support right now.”

He places the blame at a lack of spare part availability, as well as the need to upgrade aircraft equipment and software to actual operational standards.

These are similar issues to those reported by the first unit to operate the Marine Corp’s F-35B ‘Jump Jet’ version of the Lightning II.