In a quiet hangar on an airbase, an F-35 Lightning II aircraft for the U.S. Navy sits silently, its sleek lines slightly marred by streaks of discoloration.
Exposure to jet blast, airborne debris, oil, and fuel residues in harsh environments has left marks on its surface—a common occurrence for any fighter aircraft.
But beneath that worn exterior, low observable (LO) characteristics remain uncompromised. This is the natural result of high-performance operations in unforgiving conditions.
Discoloration vs. Degradation
Much of what the public sees as damage, such as the discoloration on jets returning from deployment, does not represent a degraded aircraft. During shipboard deployments, jets often experience coating discoloration due to the harsh maritime environment.
Contributing factors include frequent exposure to sea water, contamination from grease, oil, and other fluids, as well as close proximity to jet blast and rotor wash.
While it may look severe, these marks do not indicate a loss of coating integrity nor stealth performance. The discoloration is limited to the coating and does not affect the structure of the aircraft.
With that in mind, the joint program office (JPO) for the F-35 Lightning II has developed and introduced a new aircraft coating designed to significantly reduce or eliminate discoloration, enhance durability, and extend the coating’s service life.
Over the coming years, this new coating will be applied to fielded aircraft as part of routine maintenance—similar to how coatings are restored on commercial and military jets. According to Navy officials, it will provide improved protection against operational wear and is part of a broader series of upgrades supporting the program’s long-term, adaptive sustainability strategy.
A Battle in the Background
Corrosion doesn't come with flashing alarms or immediate system failures. Instead, it works quietly and gradually, often concealed beneath coatings or hidden within seams, joints, and fasteners.
The F-35’s complex airframe, made from a blend of aluminum, titanium, and carbon composites, offers immense performance benefits but also introduces the risk of galvanic corrosion when these dissimilar metals interact in humid, salty environments.
Recognizing the threat corrosion poses, the F-35 JPO says it has made corrosion control a top priority. Over time, the program has steadily implemented measures to reduce corrosion risks across the fleet. In recent years, these efforts have intensified, supported by a larger, more focused team driving a coordinated, enterprise-wide strategy.
This evolving corrosion control program ensures the F-35 remains safe and mission-ready in diverse environments—from salty ocean air aboard aircraft carriers to humid, tropical forward bases.
This was not always the case. For several years, the F-35 JPO operated without a fully developed corrosion management framework. This left field maintainers and depot crews playing “catch up” as the fleet matured.
Today, these teams, supported by a growing base of engineers and other experts, are bringing every jet up to standard and improved supply chain of consumables. This ensures long-term readiness and mission capability, according to military officials.
Pride in Persistence
The F-35 JPO’s battle with corrosion improvement and management is not dramatic, according to the Navy, and it does not make headlines like a successful sortie or a new weapons integration. But it is vital and ongoing.
Furthermore, as the Navy explains, it is being won thanks to the dedication of maintainers, depot teams, and engineers who are working tirelessly to protect the world’s most advanced fighter aircraft.
These efforts ensure that the F-35 remains both capable and reliable, and thus ready to dominate the skies for decades to come.
Source: U.S. Defense Visual Information Distribution Services, www.dvidshub.net.
