For months, newly built F-35 Joint Strike Fighters have languished at Lockheed Martin’s facility in Fort Worth, Texas, awaiting the completion of a key upgrade. The upgrade, called Technology Refresh 3 (TR-3), is hoped to be finished in 2024. The TR-3 improvements include better displays, computer memory, and processing power. Persistent software troubles, including problems integrating it into the new TR-3 hardware, have stalled the completion of the TR-3 upgrade.
New F-35s equipped with TR-3 hardware started rolling off Lockheed’s production line in late July, but the government refused to accept their deliveries due to the software troubles. In mid-November, a handful of production F-35s with interim TR-3 software flew for the first time at Fort Worth, Lockheed confirmed. The Pentagon’s F-35 Joint Program Office is looking for a way to resume acceptance flights for the new fighters and deliveries before TR-3 is completely finished.
Top Air Force officials said at the Defense News Conference in September that the stalled deliveries could mean some units have to wait longer for promised F-35s, potentially impacting global force management. Specifically, Air Combat Command head Gen. Mark Kelly stated that the delays could impact global force management.
The Pentagon early in 2024 is also expected make a decision that moves the F-35 to full-rate production. The F-35 program has finished a series of tests in the Joint Simulation Environment to collect data needed for the Pentagon to make that decision, and in early 2024, Pratt & Whitney is expected to receive the first in a series of sole-source contracts to upgrade the F-35′s existing F135 engines under the Engine Core Upgrade program.
Stephen Losey is the air warfare reporter for Defense News. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. He has traveled to the Middle East to cover U.S. Air Force operations.
