The US F-35 Modernization: 2023 Production Shortfall Explained

The United States has fallen short of its 2023 plan to produce a modernized fleet of F-35 fighter jets, a gap noted by high-level program leadership and reported by Defense News. The briefing highlights that the shortfall was not about the design or capability of the upgraded aircraft itself, but rather about the pace of manufacturing essential components that enable the updated jets to roll off the line. In discussions with the program office, Lt. Gen. Michael Schmidt, the program manager, shed light on the practical bottlenecks that slowed progress and shaped the year’s procurement outcomes. Defense officials emphasized that meeting the full yearly target requires a steady cadence of subassemblies, advanced avionics, and other critical parts that are often sourced from a tightly choreographed supply chain, with any delay rippling through the entire production schedule.