Marine unit found metal shavings in F-35 fuel, plastic tool in wing
By Stephen Losey
Apr 29, 12:56 PM
U.S. Navy Under Secretary Erik Raven learns about the F-35C from a pilot with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 311 during a visit to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California. The squadron found multiple problems with five newly delivered F-35C Joint Strike Fighters late last year, according to a memo obtained exclusively by Defense News. (Sgt. Joshua Brittenham/U.S. Marine Corps)
Metal shavings in contaminated fuel, incorrectly assembled parts, and a plastic scraper protruding from a wing fold were among the faults discovered in five new F-35C Joint Strike Fighters delivered to a U.S. Marine Corps fighter squadron in California in 2023, according to a memo obtained by Defense News.
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 311, or VMFA-311, at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego discovered an array of problems with its Lockheed Martin-made F-35s that ultimately required more than 700 hours of work to fix and wasted more than 169,000 pounds of fuel, the Jan. 7 memo said.
On Dec. 7, for instance, a plastic scraper was discovered protruding from the wing fold of one of the squadron’s jets, after the jet had flown, the memo noted. The 5.5-inch scraper was discovered during a post-flight inspection on the jet and fell to the ground.
The F-35C is the Joint Strike Fighter variant flown by the Navy and Marine Corps, and each plane costs $94.4 million. It can take off from and land on aircraft carriers, and its wingtips are able to fold up to allow more compact storage on aircraft carriers.
https://www.defensenews.com/air/2024/04/29/marine-unit-found-metal-shavings-in-f-35-fuel-plastic-tool-in-wing/
