Triservice formation of US Air Force F-35A (lead), US Marine Corps F-35B, and US Navy F-35C. F-35s are being delivered with training-capable TR-3 software and hardware, but a full combat-capable version will not be delivered until 2025. (US Air Force)
Lockheed Martin is delivering F-35 Lightning IIs with a “robust” but not yet combat-capable version of the Technology Refresh-3 (TR-3) software, according to the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO), which administers acquisitions on behalf of the aircraft's customers.
The new software build marks an improvement over the TR-3 hardware and software load delivered starting in July, when the JPO resumed accepting aircraft following a year-long suspension. The improvements include updates to displays, added computer memory, and increased processing power, the JPO told Janes .
The JPO and Lockheed Martin said in a joint statement that they have “reached an agreement for the acceptance and delivery of TR-3-enabled aircraft with robust combat training capability. As part of the agreement, the JPO will withhold a portion of final aircraft delivery payments from Lockheed Martin until TR-3 combat capability is qualified and delivered”.
The JPO said that the withheld payments amount to approximately USD5 million per aircraft, which will be held back until a combat-ready version of TR-3 is delivered.
“Additionally, Lockheed Martin and its industry partners are making significant investments in development labs and digital infrastructure that benefit the F-35 enterprise's speed and agility in fielding capabilities to the most advanced and connected fighter jet,” the statement said.
Lockheed Martin declined to detail the investments.
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