As part of its annual activity report, Lockheed Martin confirmed that a total of 110 new stealth fighters were delivered to the U.S. military and other allies in the year ending in 2024. The report further notes that despite delays in the development of the Tech Refresh 3 (TR-3) upgrade, this achievement marks the global milestone of 1,100 fifth-generation aircraft delivered to various air force combat fleets. It emphasizes that it is beyond.
Lockheed Martin delivered up to 22 additional F-35s after December 4, 2024, but the overall goal was lower than expected within the framework of the 2024 international delivery program. The goal was originally set at 156 aircraft per year, but this was because certification of Block 4 software for Tech Refresh 3 avionics, a faster processor with new displays and other enhancements, had not yet been fully tested. , was not satisfied. As a result, the Joint Planning Office (JPO) has decided not to accept aircraft that do not have the newly certified configuration. By September 2024, at least 80 modifications had been proposed for the fighter jet, including updates to communications, navigation, and electronic warfare systems, but they were still incomplete.
In July 2024, the JPO lifts the delivery hold after agreeing to accept F-35s equipped with a “truncated” version of the TR-3 software, allowing aircraft deliveries to resume and pilots in the new configuration. permission to begin training. A scaled-down version of this software is considered safe for limited operations and will enable training with many systems and weapons aimed at future fighter jets, leading to a setback in flight test campaigns and Lockheed’s new Partially alleviated significant delays caused by the integration of upgrades into manufactured aircraft. Martin’s plants.
Following this approval, Lockheed Martin will deliver the first two F-35 Lightning II aircraft under the Technology Refresh-3 (TR-3) standard in July, followed by another batch in August. delivered. Additionally, as previously mentioned, Lockheed Martin has delivered up to 22 additional F-35s since December 4, 2024, the last monthly update before the end of the year.
Despite the delays, the delivery halt has resulted in a significant stockpile of F-35 fighters, estimated to number close to 100, and there is insufficient space within the facility to install additional stealth fighters. This created a logistical problem for the company. Finally, the JPO expects Lockheed Martin to certify the TR-3 software for operational missions by the end of this year.
*The photo is an illustration.
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