Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 14
14
F-35 aircraft availability compromised by persistent personnel shortages and global support solution reset
Conclusion
The Department also set out the reasons for poor availability of aircraft. It accepted that shortages of personnel, particularly engineers, impacted aircraft availability, and would continue to do so until they were resolved.30 Furthermore, the Department told us that the Global Support Solution, which supplies spare parts, is being reset by the United States so that it 22 Q 120 23 C&AG’s Report, paras 1.22-1.23 24 Qq 85, 104 25 Qq 109, 130 26 Qq 129-130 27 Qq 120-121 28 Q 109 29 Q 113; C&AG’s report, para 2.10 30 Q 104 9 can improve availability.31 The rates at which UK aircraft are unavailable because they are undergoing maintenance or waiting for spare parts are significantly higher than the target set by the global programme.32 31 Q 130 32 C&AG’s Report, para 1.27 10 2 F-35 personnel and accommodation Personnel
Government Response
A response document is linked to this report, dated 19 January 2026. Response attribution to this conclusion has not been verified. Read the response document ↗