F-35 programme resumes deliveries with interim software solutions

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter programme has faced significant challenges and delays in recent years, particularly concerning the rollout of crucial software upgrades.

The US military has restarted deliveries of the latest F-35 Joint Strike Fighters from Lockheed Martin following a year-long suspension caused by software upgrade problems.

The F-35 Joint Program Office announced that the first two F-35As equipped with a truncated version of the Technology Refresh 3 upgrade software were delivered to the US Air Force, Caliber.Az reports citing the local media.

One was assigned to the Air National Guard’s 187th Fighter Wing at Dannelly Field, Alabama, while the other was sent to Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada.

"TR-3 Delays Impact F-35 Deployment in Europe Until 2025, Says U.S. Air Force General"

Gen. James Hecker, commander of US Air Forces in Europe, cautioned at the Royal International Air Tattoo that despite progress, issues with the TR-3 upgrade for the F-35s will persist. He highlighted that while the current software version is suitable for training, further improvements are needed before the jets can engage in combat missions, affecting deployment timelines in Europe.

The TR-3 upgrades to the F-35 encompass enhanced displays, increased computer memory, and upgraded processing power. These advancements are crucial as they pave the way for a broader modernization effort known as Block 4, aimed at equipping the F-35 with capabilities such as expanded weapon carrying capacity, improved target identification, and enhanced electronic warfare capabilities.

However, the TR-3 initiative has encountered setbacks primarily due to software issues and delays in hardware production. Originally slated for completion around April 2023, the TR-3 upgrades faced ongoing challenges. As of July 2023, when the first TR-3-equipped jets were rolling off the production line in Fort Worth, Texas, the upgrades were still unfinished. Consequently, the U.S. government refused to accept delivery of these aircraft, leading to a backlog of undelivered jets accumulating at the production facility.

Lockheed Martin and the Joint Program Office (JPO) devised a strategy to expedite the completion of an interim version of the TR-3 software, which would sufficiently support training missions and enable test flights necessary for the government to accept the aircraft. However, due to ongoing software development challenges, F-35s equipped with this truncated TR-3 software will not be ready for combat missions until 2025, according to Lt. Gen. Mike Schmidt, the F-35 program executive officer.

Schmidt highlighted that the F-35 program is implementing a phased approach to the delivery of these aircraft. Initial batches with training capabilities are slated for delivery in July and August, while jets equipped with a more robust combat training capability are expected to follow by the end of August. This approach aims to ensure that the aircraft meet both training and operational requirements as software development progress.

Lt. Gen. Mike Schmidt emphasized, "Our focus has been on providing our customers with aircraft that are stable, capable, and maintainable, and this phased approach does that." He reiterated the commitment to ensuring the F-35s meet operational standards through incremental software updates.

Meanwhile, Air Force acquisition chief Andrew Hunter, speaking at the Royal International Air Tattoo, highlighted that the F-35 will continue to receive enhanced capabilities as further software modifications are developed and integrated into the aircraft's systems. This ongoing development aims to continually improve the aircraft's operational effectiveness and readiness.