Navy Cannibalizes Jets and Subs for Spare Parts

A new report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has revealed that Navy technicians are stripping parts from F/A-18 Super Hornets and Virginia-class submarines to keep other aircraft and vessels operational. The practice, known as cannibalization, highlights the military’s growing struggle with supply chain shortages, data rights issues, and long maintenance delays.

The GAO found that both programs face critical spare part shortages, often because original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) hold exclusive rights to key components. Without access to technical data, the Navy cannot easily contract alternate suppliers or produce replacements in-house. In the case of Super Hornets, maintainers have been unable to obtain data rights for radio frequency cables for more than a decade, forcing them to remove cables from grounded jets instead of receiving timely replacements.

Virginia-class submarines face similar challenges, as OEM schedules dictate maintenance timelines. If vendors fail to deliver parts on time, sailors are left with no option but to pull components from other submarines, temporarily reducing fleet readiness.

The GAO also examined the F-35 Lightning II, Littoral Combat Ship, and the Army’s Stryker vehicle program, all of which face delays tied to contractor-controlled technical data. The report cited examples ranging from corrosion repairs on the F-35 to costly support contracts for the Stryker.

While cannibalization keeps some assets mission-ready, it increases costs, workloads, and downtime for the systems losing parts. The GAO urged greater access to technical data to strengthen long-term sustainment and reduce dependence on vendors.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, yahoo.com