‘Ferrari’ aircraft warning for F-35 Joint Strike Fighter

A top US Air Force officer says the aircraft should be driven only on Sundays as Australia considers ordering another 28.

Australia is considering whether to exercise its option to order another 28 of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Picture: AFP

The top US Air Force officer has likened the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter to a Ferrari that should be driven only on Sundays, as Australia considers whether to exercise its option to order another 28 of the aircraft at $140m each.

US Air Force Chief of Staff Charles Brown said he wanted to “moderate how much we’re using those aircraft”, due to ­engine-wear problems with the advanced multi-role fighters.

The RAAF, which has taken delivery of 33 Joint Strike Fighters, said it had not experienced similar problems with its F-35s, but was closely monitoring the fleet’s engine performance.

The US is considering winding back its F-35 order from Lockheed Martin to 1050 rather than an originally planned 1763, potentially raising the cost of Australia’s F-35 program.

General Brown told defence publications in the US that the jet’s engines were “failing a little faster in certain areas” as a result of heavy usage. He said changes to maintenance were being considered but one solution was to use the F-35 less.

“You don’t drive your Ferrari to work every day, you only drive it on Sundays,” he said. “This is our ‘high end’ — we want to make sure we don’t use it all for the low-end fight.”

His comments followed those of Australia’s Chief of Air Force Mel Hupfeld, who said he would be “foolish” to prematurely ­increase Australia’s Joint Strike Fighter order from 72 to 100.

Australia has taken delivery of 33 F-35A jets from an order of 72, at a total cost of $17bn.

A Defence spokesman said it was aware of issues raised by General Brown but excessive ­engine wear had not been noted on Australia’s F-35A Lightning II fleet. “The RAAF has not changed the planned rate of (F-35A) flying as a result of ­engine issues,” he said.