US Air Force's Frankenjet Fighter Saves $63 Million

The US Air Force's innovative project has successfully transformed two damaged F-35A fighter jets into a single operational aircraft known as the 'Frankenjet'. The project, led by the F-35 Joint Program Office in collaboration with Lockheed Martin and the 388th Fighter Wing, involved transplanting the nose section of one jet onto another. This unprecedented repair effort saved $63 million compared to purchasing a new F-35A and took two years and five months to complete at a cost of $11.7 million, which was $2.8 million below the projected budget. The Frankenjet, now part of the 4th Fighter Generation Squadron at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, underwent its first flight in January 2025, demonstrating performance comparable to a newly manufactured aircraft. This project not only maximized resource efficiency but also set a new standard for major aircraft repair capability.