WASHINGTON — The Pentagon can’t account for hundreds of thousands of spare parts worth millions of dollars that are stored worldwide for the U.S. and allies that use its costliest weapon, the F-35 jet, according to congressional auditors.
The findings by the Government Accountability Office offer a concrete current example of “material weaknesses” in the Pentagon’s financial management that resulted in the military‘s failure to pass a department-wide audit for the fifth consecutive year, according to the review that was released Tuesday.
Unlike scores of GAO reports and other assessments that analyze the fighter jet’s cost, schedule and flying performance, the new audit delved into the more mundane and largely invisible work of supporting the aircraft once it’s delivered to international customers. The operation and support bill for the F-35 may reach an estimated $1.4 trillion through 2088.
Allies don’t own parts and tap into the Defense Department’s worldwide shared pool of spares, including engines, tires, landing gear and items such as bolts, screws and other fasteners. The Pentagon’s F-35 program office doesn’t maintain accountability over the parts, “the total value of which is unknown,” the GAO said.
The parts are held at more than 50 locations worldwide, including subcontractors’ facilities, domestic and international military bases, facilities managed by foreign partners in the F-35…
