Corrosion Adds To UK F-35 Availability Pressures

The United Kingdom’s F-35 Lightning Force is adapting its maintenance procedures as corrosion adds to availability pressures on its F-35B fleet, which operates from land and Royal Navy aircraft carriers. The National Audit Office found that corrosion in maritime environments was more extensive than expected, alongside slow maintenance and shortages of spare parts that were already reducing aircraft availability. In a parliamentary answer, the Ministry of Defence said corrosion inspections were under way in line with maintenance policy set by the F-35 Joint Program Office. The ministry expects inspection and maintenance to continue throughout the fleet’s service life.