F-35 Lightning II

In Production

Fighter Aircraft · Multi-Service · Lockheed Martin

Fifth-generation stealth multirole combat aircraft. The most expensive weapons program in history.

Total Cost

$1.7 trillion

Unit Cost

$80M per unit

Cost Overrun

+183%

Development

14 years

Planned Units

2,456

Delivered

1,000

Start Year

2001

IOC Year

2015

Delivery Progress41% (1,000 / 2,456)

Cost Estimate Growth Over Time

2001

$233B

2005

$276B+18%

2010

$380B+38%

2015

$1.1T+189%

2020

$1.6T+45%

2024

$1.7T+6%

Total cost growth: +630% from original $233B estimate

⚠️ Key Issues

•800+ unresolved technical deficiencies
•50-70% mission readiness
•Engine reliability issues
•Software delays
•2-3x operating cost of legacy fighters

Key Details

Lifetime cost includes 66 years of operations. Unit cost dropped from $237M to ~$80M. Program has faced chronic delays, software issues, and engine problems.

💸 Taxpayer Alert: 183% Over Budget

The F-35 Lightning II program has exceeded its original budget by 183%. At $1.7T, this represents billions in cost growth that could have funded schools, healthcare, or infrastructure. This is a pattern across Pentagon weapons programs — the military-industrial complex has little incentive to control costs.

Why Does This Keep Happening? →