The F-35 Lightning II, a critical component of modern airpower, is facing significant hurdles as its Technology Refresh 3 (TR-3) upgrades have been delayed, with full combat readiness now not expected until 2025. The much-anticipated improvements are part of the broader Block 4 enhancement program, which aims to augment the fifth-generation fighter’s capabilities significantly. These upgrades include advanced hardware and software enhancements designed to keep the F-35 at the forefront of combat effectiveness.
Lockheed Martin, the aircraft’s manufacturer, has reported that the TR-3 upgrades, which were initially scheduled for a mid-2023 completion, have now been pushed back due to multiple factors, including software challenges and integration difficulties with the new hardware components. These setbacks have also affected supply chains and testing schedules. As a result, the company plans to deliver only 75 to 110 F-35s this year, a notable decrease from the annual average of approximately 150 jets.
The TR-3 enhancements encompass a suite of improvements such as better displays, increased computer memory, and augmented processing power. However, Lockheed Martin has been forced to store newly-built F-35s intended for TR-3 upgrades pending the completion of integration and testing. “What we’ve run into on TR-3 is, the level of complexity and executing a [capability] increase that’s pretty dramatic,” Taiclet said. “We are wringing out all of the software through all of the new hardware, and integrating into all of the aircraft’s other systems, and that’s taken longer than our team predicted.”
Despite the delays, the company is determined to deliver a ‘truncated’ version of TR-3 this fall. This interim solution is intended to allow for the commencement of training operations and setting up of necessary infrastructure, such as spare part pools and maintenance organizations. Taiclet stated on Tuesday that flight testing of the shortened software setup is currently in progress, with the company anticipating the ability to enhance 95% of TR-3’s functionalities. Lockheed Martin remains on track to provide aircraft with certain TR-3 capabilities in the third quarter, with plans to upgrade them into fully combat-ready jets by 2025.
Pressure is mounting on Lockheed and the F-35 program to get them ready, with multiple lawmakers expressing dissatisfaction with the delays. Norcross expressed frustration over the continued deferral of the program’s full implementation. Lt. Gen. Michael Schmidt, the F-35 program executive officer, conveyed to a House Armed Services subcommittee the gravity of the TR-3 delays and the considerable number of jets parked and awaiting upgrades.
“We have been in this meeting, coming back year after year talking about this, and each year we’re kicking the can down the road,” Rep. Donald Norcross, D-New Jersey, told Schmidt in a House Armed Services subcommittee on tactical air and land forces hearing last week. “It’s always something new. You need to understand the frustration.”
The TR-3 delay is not an isolated concern but part of a broader reevaluation of the Block 4 program. The program has been described as needing to be “reimagined,” with some planned capabilities now deferred to the 2030s due to the complexity of integration, resource limitations, and evolving requirements. The Government Accountability Office has suggested that Block 4 should be separated from the broader F-35 program and treated as a Major Acquisition Program to enhance cost management and handle its complexities more effectively.
Relevant articles:
– First upgraded F-35s won’t be ready for combat until next year, Air Force Times, 04/26/2024
– F-35 Tech Upgrade Slips to 2025; ‘Truncated’ Version in the Fall, Air & Space Forces Magazine, Tue, 23 Apr 2024 22:00:04 GMT
– Air & Space Forces Magazine, Air & Space Forces Magazine, Wed, 24 Apr 2024 15:26:51 GMT