New F-35 Lightning II update delayed
Lockheed Martin and subcontractors continue to develop and improve the F-35 Lightning II fighter. By order of the Pentagon, various improvements are being made and the necessary changes are being introduced. So, work is currently underway on the next update, known as Tech Refresh 3 (TR-3). Lockheed Martin has already launched the construction of aircraft in this configuration, but the customer is not yet ready to accept them.
New configuration
Over the past few years, Lockheed Martin has been producing F-35 fighters of all major modifications in the modern TR-2 configuration. Production has been set up at the required pace, and new equipment is regularly handed over to the customer. In addition, in the recent past, work has been underway to create a new TR-3 upgrade package for implementation in the near future.
According to the plans at the beginning of the decade, the first F-35 TR-3 aircraft were supposed to enter the Air Force by April 2023. However, the project faced various difficulties that negatively affected the timing of its implementation. The work schedule had to be revised, and now we are talking about a significant backlog from the original plans.
The first Lightning-2 with TR-3 modifications was made last year. On January 6, 2023, this fighter took to the air for the first time and began testing. It takes several months to fully test the updated aircraft, and these activities have not yet been completed. At the same time, the implementation of the new package, as well as the development of the F-35 program as a whole, depends on their progress and results.
Long before the planned completion of testing, in February, Lockheed Martin began to prepare the mass production of updated aircraft. The first F-35 TR-3 was going to be rolled out of the assembly shop no later than July.
According to existing contracts, this year Lockheed Martin should build approx. 150 F-35 fighters. More than 40 machines have already been handed over to the customer and another 50 are at different stages of construction. Accordingly, during the second half of the year one third of the total number of aircraft planned for the year will be laid down and built. The vast majority of new technology will be performed in the TR-2 configuration. The volume and pace of assembly of the updated TR-3 will be limited for now.
Production and delays
The first F-35 aircraft in the new configuration are planned to be completed in July. At the same time, the terms of their acceptance by the customer remain uncertain. So, in March, the manufacturer reported that all checks and other activities would be completed within a year. Accordingly, the first TR-3 fighter will be handed over to the Pentagon in December, and everything possible is being done to fulfill such plans.
However, the F-35 Program Office conducted its own assessment of the project and risks and no longer shares the contractor's optimism. According to his calculations, with a probability of 80%, the first F-35 TR-3 will be able to be put into operation only in April 2024. However, earlier completion of work is not ruled out.
According to Breaking Defense, the other day, the Program Office re-examined the current state of affairs and adjusted its plans. Thus, the TR-3 update has not yet passed all the necessary checks and has not confirmed the calculated characteristics. In this regard, in the near future, testing of the experimental F-35 in a new configuration will continue. It is necessary to carry out an additional stage of flight tests with special attention to the operation of the software.
The assembly of new aircraft of the TR-3 version will also continue, although in small volumes. At the same time, the Pentagon is not going to accept this technique yet. Built F-35 TR-3s will be sent to storage sites. Their future fate depends on the results of ongoing tests. If successful, the aircraft will be accepted and put into service as soon as possible. Otherwise, the TR-3 project will probably be finalized, and the built fighters will receive a corresponding update.
The Office of the Program still believes that the timing of the delivery of equipment may shift. As before, the most likely time for acceptance is the interval between December 2023 and April 2024.
Update before upgrading
According to known data, the Tech Refresh 3 modernization project provides for the replacement of part of the electronic and computing equipment, as well as software updates. A new central computer, a memory unit and related electronics have been developed and are being introduced.
Due to the replacement of hardware and software, an increase in speed is provided in solving all the main tasks, which will positively affect the combat qualities of the aircraft. In addition, with the help of the TR-3 project, the fighter is being prepared for the next major upgrade, known as Block 4.
The F-35 Block 4 project uses a new AN / APG-85 airborne radar with improved performance, a modern optoelectronic station is being introduced and some other sensors are being replaced. The new computer from the TR-3 package must process a larger amount of data from all sources, incl. when solving combat missions.
In the Block 4 project, the weapons control system is being significantly improved. It is planned to expand the range of compatible ammunition for work on air and ground targets. It will include both promising American developments and the main modern European designs. Due to this, they plan to attract new potential customers.
It should be noted that the development of the F-35 Block 4 project encountered a number of problems that negatively affected its cost and timing. The start of production of such equipment was repeatedly transferred to the right, and so far it remains a matter of an uncertain future. In addition, a few weeks ago, the Congressional Accountability Office again reported an increase in the cost of the project, and also noted that it could not trace all its causes.
It is important that the prospects for Block-4 directly depend on the current TR-3 project. Until the “interim” upgrade is completed, a larger upgrade is virtually impossible. At the same time, the development and implementation of the TR-3 package has already dragged on and lagged behind the original plans by about a year. It cannot be ruled out that this situation will worsen again due to unforeseen problems.
Problem after problem
The F-35 Lightning II fighters of three main modifications went into series and entered service with the Air Force, the ILC and the US Navy a few years ago, but still have not got rid of all the problems and shortcomings. Moreover, new shortcomings are regularly revealed, and further development faces its own difficulties.
To correct the identified shortcomings, it is necessary to suspend production, as it was at the beginning of this year, or the operation of equipment in the troops. Most of the newly discovered problems can be eliminated, but this requires time and resources. Other shortcomings lead to the appearance of additional operational restrictions.
This time, new fighter modernization projects, intermediate and main, became a source of difficulty. Work on them was seriously delayed and went beyond the previously planned budget. However, the customer and contractor are taking the necessary measures and expect that the situation will change in the near future. The F-35 TR-3s under construction will reach delivery to the troops, after which it will be possible to launch the Block 4 modernization.
Apparently, Lockheed Martin and its subcontractors will eventually cope with the current situation and solve the tasks. However, as it happened more than once before, the correction of shortcomings, incl. allowed at the previous stages of the project, will lead to unnecessary waste of time and money. As a result, modern fighters, already not the cheapest, will become even more expensive.
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