Group 1 - The core issue of the F-35 crash was identified as hydraulic fluid contamination by water, leading to ice formation in the landing gear [1][5] - The crash occurred on January 28, resulting in a total loss of the aircraft and an estimated cost of $196.5 million to the U.S. Air Force [3][5] - The investigation highlighted that crew decision-making, lack of oversight on hazardous materials, and failure to follow hydraulic maintenance procedures were significant contributing factors to the accident [5] Group 2 - The F-35 program is the most expensive defense project in the U.S., with the Pentagon planning to spend $1.7 trillion on the acquisition of 2,500 aircraft over the coming decades [5] - The F-35, developed by Lockheed Martin, is designed for air superiority, strike missions, electronic warfare, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities [5] - The program has faced criticism due to rising costs and multiple delivery delays, which have raised concerns about its overall effectiveness and reliability [5]