The House’s proposed fiscal 2025 National Defense Authorization Act would dedicate more Lockheed Martin-made F-35 Joint Strike Fighters to testing new technologies and capabilities. An amendment proposed by Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Va., would increase the number of developmental test F-35s from six to at least nine.
The amendment would also require those test F-35s to come from the 18th lot of jets, sooner than the schedule in the FY24 NDAA. It would give the military more flexibility in choosing which F-35 variants will be used as developmental test jets.
Wittman has highlighted the need to increase the number of test F-35s to perfect upgrades like Technology Refresh 3. The F-35 program is behind schedule due to software problems and delays in key parts production.
The proposed FY25 NDAA would reduce the Pentagon’s planned F-35 purchase by 10 and redirect the savings to expanding testing capacity. Lockheed Martin expects the jets to be ready for deliveries to resume in the third quarter of 2024, but they may not be prepared for combat operations until 2025.