New Calculations Put 55-Year Expenditures Under $1 Trillion

The Pentagon has reduced its estimated cost for operation of the F-35 Lightning II airplanes to under $1 trillion over its 55-year expected service life.

The new estimate to operate and maintain the expected fleet of more than 2,000 airplanes is $857 billion, according to a report from Reuters. The new figures could make the airplane more attractive to international customers, officials said.

The estimate is based on over 7,000 test flights that have been performed by the aircraft, according to an official not authorized to speak publicly on the topic. The data was handed over to the Senate Armed Services Committee by Air Force Lieutenant General Christopher Bogdan, the F-35 program chief.

Significantly, the estimated operating costs of the F-35B STOVL airplane have been cut over 16 percent. The Marine Corps also plans to do nearly all of the maintenance work on the F-35B "in house" as a cost-savings measure.

The JSF remains the most expensive weapon's system ever developed by the U.S. military at $392 billion for the delivery of 2,443 airplanes to the Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.dod.gov