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AF Claims F-35 Is Combat Ready

Author: Riley Ceder
Date: September 15, 2026

Air Force officials said the F-35 demonstrated sustained combat readiness during recent Middle East deployments in Operation Epic Fury and Operation Midnight Hammer. They highlighted reported mission-capable rates, rapid turnaround times, survivability, and the aircraft’s ability to take on multiple missions. The article also notes that this official assessment follows a June Government Accountability Office report finding that the fleet’s full mission capable rate had fallen to 25%, with the Air Force citing software delays, spare-parts availability, and corrosion issues.

Main points and details:

  • Maj. Gen. Brian Laidlaw and Col. Charles A. Fallon said F-35s sustained high mission-capable rates during intense combat operations in the Middle East.
  • Laidlaw said that, when properly resourced, the aircraft performed well in combat despite potential logistics and spare-parts challenges.
  • Fallon described a comparatively low-maintenance flight line between missions, saying aircraft either needed parts when unavailable or could be refueled and rearmed for a rapid turnaround.
  • Officials said reducing turnaround times from hours to minutes can affect aircraft survivability and the safety of personnel.
  • Laidlaw said the aircraft showed versatility by performing multiple mission types, which required weapons to be integrated and certified more quickly than is typical in peacetime.
  • Fallon said continuing demand for the aircraft would remain high, noting that more than half of the wing had been deployed at any given time for roughly two and a half years.
  • The article contrasts the officials’ assessment with a June GAO report that found the F-35 fleet’s full mission capable rate had declined to 25%.
  • According to the GAO report, the Air Force attributed readiness declines in part to software delays, parts availability, and corrosion problems.

➡️ FULL ARTICLE: https://www.defensenews.com/air/2026/09/15/f-35-proved-combat-readiness-during-middle-east-deployments-air-force-officials-say/

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