An important series of tests for the latest upgrades to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is anticipated to begin two years after these jets began entering service, and at least three years later than their initial scheduled date. According to the Office of the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation’s annual report, submitted to Congress on January 31, 2024, the dedicated operational tests for the F-35’s Technology Refresh 3 (TR-3) upgrades will likely start in mid to late fiscal 2026, or approximately next summer. These tests aim to assess whether the TR-3 enhancements are operationally effective.
As of January 2024, Lt. Gen. Michael Schmidt, the F-35 program executive officer, indicated that Lockheed Martin has delivered more than 100 TR-3 equipped fighters, all featuring software that enables pilots to conduct training flights, including combat training. Schmidt emphasized the commitment to implementing comprehensive test plans to ensure that the critical TR-3 upgrade provides advanced capabilities to military personnel. The F-35 Joint Program Office is focused on mitigating known risks to deliver TR-3 combat capabilities by 2025, with further improvements slated for future production lots.
An anonymous official familiar with the operational test program noted that initiating operational testing next year would not impede the fielding of the newest jets. The report states that it is not unusual for fielding decisions to be made prior to the completion of operational testing. However, the Office of the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation, clarified that the TR-3 tests cannot commence until its software is stabilized, and necessary aircraft modifications and flight test instruments are installed. If systems and software mature faster than expected, testing could potentially start earlier.
The delay in launching the TR-3 tests adds to a series of challenges faced by the Lockheed Martin-developed fighter, resulting in further delays in modernization efforts. TR-3 encompasses enhancements to the F-35’s hardware and software, such as improved displays, augmented computer memory, and increased processing power. Initially slated for release in April 2023, software issues and integration struggles postponed the program’s advancement. The Pentagon has delayed accepting deliveries of the latest F-35s until July 2024, when an interim TR-3 software version permitting training flights is set for completion.
Currently, TR-3-enabled F-35s are also unable to perform combat missions. Although the F-35 Joint Program Office aspires to have the jets operable for combat by 2025, the timeline may experience further adjustments. In a January earnings call, Lockheed’s Chief Financial Officer, Jay Malave, indicated that the work might not conclude until early 2026. The delays associated with TR-3 may have ripple effects on future enhancements, particularly the Block 4 modernization program, designed to enable the F-35 to carry additional weaponry, improve target recognition, and enhance electronic warfare capabilities.
The Office of the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation criticized the F-35 program for its lack of progress in advancing necessary software. Their annual report stressed that the program has not demonstrated improvement in adhering to scheduled timelines and performance metrics necessary for developing and testing software aimed at addressing deficiencies and incorporating new capabilities.
Stephen Losey is noted as the air warfare reporter for Defense News, with previous experience covering leadership and personnel matters at Air Force Times, special operations, and air warfare at Military.com. He has reported on U.S. Air Force operations in the Middle East.
