The US Department of Defense does not know where hundreds of thousands of parts for the fifth-generation fighter F-35 are located
What is known
The department said in a statement that the priceof lost parts is more than $85 million. However, the actual cost of unaccounted for components is believed to be much higher. They were "lost, damaged or destroyed".
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F-35 Program Office reporting to the MinistryU.S. Defense Department does not control or keep records of components. Also, the Government Accountability Office says the office does not track or enter parts into the property records system.
Lockheed Martin delivers fifth fighter jetsgenerations to other countries, but the Allies do not own the parts, but use the Pentagon's general stock of spare parts. This includes power plants, tires, chassis, propellers, and more.
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Parts are dispersed in more than 50 locations acrossaround the world. In particular, at the facilities of subcontractors, at US and international military bases, at the facilities of foreign partners in the supply chain, and at the warehouses of the Department of Defense Logistics Agency.
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Interestingly, the F-35 program office spent almost$12 million for inventory, but despite this, he did not indicate the cost, total number and location of parts in the global pool. In total, since 2018, the Pentagon has missed almost 1 million parts.