Another defect has been discovered in the F-35 that poses a danger to pilots.

On January 7th, Business Insider reported that the naval version of the fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter jet was found to have a design flaw in its landing gear system, which could pose a dangerous risk to pilots.

According to this source, the landing gear system of the F-35C variant generates excessive vibrations when the aircraft leaves the catapult system. This could cause head injuries to the pilot due to excessive acceleration or temporary loss of control during takeoff. "The impact on the pilot's head is sufficient to create unforeseen dangers," Business Insider reported.

Assessments regarding the design flaws in the F-35C's landing gear system were compiled from reports by 105 pilots. 74 of them reported experiencing moderate (level 3) pain during takeoff, 18 others experienced level 4 pain (above normal tolerance), and one pilot stated that the pain experienced during F-35C takeoff was "unacceptable."

The F-35C variant is for the US Navy.

Previously, in December 2016, Lieutenant General Christopher Bogdan, the head of the F-35 program at the Pentagon, acknowledged discovering numerous problems and malfunctions in the first batch of F-35C aircraft delivered to the US Navy. He asserted that only a small number of F-35C aircraft delivered had defects and that the issue of excessive acceleration causing pilot injury would disappear once the F-35C aircraft took off with full weapons and fuel in combat readiness. However, the Pentagon subsequently established an independent investigation team, codenamed "Red Team," to address the issue.

According to current plans, the F-35C, after passing testing, will officially enter service with the US Navy in 2019. Meanwhile, the Air Force variant, the F-35A, was accepted into service in August 2016, and the Marine Corps variant, the F-35B, was accepted in August 2015.

Currently, the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program developing the F-35 is facing significant criticism for budget overruns and for versions of the aircraft failing to meet design expectations. Experts estimate that the total cost of the F-35 program, including the cost of maintaining the fifth-generation aircraft for the next 55 years, has already reached $1.5 trillion. This figure could increase further if the number of F-35s ordered by the US and other countries continues to decline.

Designed with many advanced features, including stealth capabilities, the US Department of Defense plans to spend $392 billion to purchase 2,442 F-35 aircraft (with an estimated price of $160 million per aircraft). However, the cost of the F-35 may increase significantly due to technical issues and a development delay of up to seven years.

According to the People's Army Newspaper