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The Pentagon ordered the recall of 890 F-35 stealth fighters worldwide because of an engine problem that had to be repaired. Photo/US Air Force/Handout via REUTERS
WASHINGTON – Pentagon United States of America (USA) ordered withdrawal stealth fighter jet F-35 that have been shipped worldwide. The reason was that there was a problem with the engine which caused several planes to be grounded and new deliveries stopped.
The withdrawal order for about 890 aircraft that had been sent to various countries was issued by the Pentagon’s F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO), as reported by Defense News, Saturday (4/3/2023).
JPO JPO F-35s ordered repairs earlier this week, and repair and reassembly times can take up to 90 days.
The 890 aircraft to be recalled are those that defense contractor Lockheed Martin has shipped around the world, including those that have been grounded since the Dec. 15 crash at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth in Texas.
An investigation found that engine vibration caused the crash, in which the hovering F-35 landed vertically and suddenly bounced upwards before taxiing forward and taxiing with its nose and right wing.
The incident involved a variant of the F-35B Lightning II fighter jet used by the US Marine Corps.
Lockheed responded to the crash by suspending acceptance flights for the new F-35s, which were required before the planes could be delivered to customers.
The Pentagon and maker of the F-35 propulsion system, Pratt & Whitney, halted deliveries of the engines last December.
Investigators are reportedly tracing the problem to engine vibration, which JPO F-35 said is rare and is considered a problem in newly produced F-35s.
