The Pentagon is set to resume accepting new F-35 aircraft this month after Lockheed Martin addressed stability issues with the plane’s new software package, Technology Refresh-3 (TR-3). The acceptance of new F-35s was halted last July due to these issues. General Kenneth Wilsbach, head of Air Combat Command, emphasized that the focus has been on resolving the problems with the TR-3 software upgrade.
This software enhancement is critical for the new F-35 jets, and its instability had caused a pause in deliveries to the Air Force in recent months. “We’ve held up signing the jets over to the Air Force and have been very much focused on resolving this hold-up. I’m hopeful that those jets will start to be delivered this month,” Wilsbach said during a virtual conference organized by the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.
The Air Force is considering several options to address long-standing issues with the F-35’s power and cooling systems. These solutions range from costly fixes that add extra capabilities to simpler solutions that meet basic requirements. Resolving these issues is a top priority moving forward.
Earlier this month, the F-35 Joint Program Office announced its decision to proceed with the TR-3 software truncation plan. Following extensive coordination with various stakeholders — including services, the Joint Strike Fighter Executive Steering Board, pilots, maintainers, and industry — F-35 deliveries will resume soon.
Pentagon to resume F-35 deliveries
The Pentagon was withholding approximately $7 million in final payments for each undelivered aircraft. Lockheed Martin anticipates delivering between 75 and 100 aircraft by December 31, potentially bringing in $700 million to the company during that period, according to Jefferies aerospace analyst Sheila Kahyaoglu. The initial aircraft deliveries will include F-35A models for the Air Force, with Navy and Marine Corps versions to follow after ensuring flight worthiness.
This plan aligns with a proposal that the Joint Program Office’s program executive officer, Lt. Gen. Mike Schmidt, presented to Congress in April. He suggested a two-phase delivery approach: initially accepting jets with hardware and software that meet training requirements, with full combat capability upgrades planned for later.
“This is an important milestone in our continued development of TR-3 capabilities. We look forward to delivering the first TR-3 F-35s with combat training capabilities soon,” Lockheed stated. Air Force jets will initially be accepted with interim training capability software and will require updates to achieve full combat capability, expected next year.
The expected software upgrade will significantly boost the jets’ processing power and memory. Originally planned for delivery in July 2023, the first fully capable TR-3 jets faced setbacks due to issues with the new software and integrated core processor for combat missions.
