US F-35 readiness is falling as only 25% fully mission capable

One of the more pointed findings in the report is the concerns over the effectiveness of contractor incentive structures.

Since 2020, the Pentagon has paid hundreds of millions of dollars in incentive fees intended to encourage improvements in aircraft readiness.

However, GAO found that these incentives did not achieve their intended effect.

The watchdog found that contractor performance thresholds often did not align with the readiness requirements established by the military services. As a result, contractors were able to qualify for incentive payments even when aircraft availability remained below desired levels.