A complete of 72 plane had been parked at Lockheed Martin’s amenities after the Expertise Refresh 3 skilled extreme glitches, following which the Pentagon halted deliveries in July 2023.
Lockheed Martin has delivered the backlogged F-35 Lightning II fighters that had been parked at its amenities owing to issues with the Expertise Refresh 3 (TR-3) software program code, reported Bloomberg. The Pentagon stopped accepting new deliveries for a 12 months in July 2023 owing to the snagged software program, withholding funds to Lockheed Martin.
The navy and the corporate later agreed for a “truncated” model of this system as a stopgap association. This allowed the deliveries to renew in 2024, and on Might 1, 2025, the ultimate backlogged F-35 was delivered.
The variety of jets that piled up at Lockheed’s Fort Value amenities in Texas had been additionally revealed to be 72, Protection One stated. A Jan. 2024 Breaking Protection report quoted Lockheed Martin’s chief monetary officer Jay Malave, who stated a complete of 100-120 plane is likely to be undelivered by the tip of 2024 owing to the backlog.
The corporate has been constantly delivering plane over the past 12 months. Breaking Protection quoted Lockheed Martin’s head of aeronautics division Greg Ulmer and vp for enterprise improvement J.R. MacDonald who stated, as of early June, the corporate has delivered 200 F-35s within the TR-3 configuration, and forecasts a supply of 170-190 plane this 12 months.
We lately started to ship TR-3 configured F-35s. The upgraded plane on this preliminary section are outfitted with fight coaching capabilities—a key step towards full operational capabilities. pic.twitter.com/VWMvWFV761
— F-35 Lightning II (@thef35) July 19, 2024
In the meantime, the totally operational TR-3 is now additionally prepared, MacDonald instructed journalists in June on the sidelines of the Paris Air Present, saying the corporate believes “it has reached that time” and is pending solely a “ultimate closure from the U.S. authorities.” The F-35 JPO (Joint Program Workplace) has, in truth, to offer formal approval to combine it within the manufacturing line.
TR-3 and Block 4
The Expertise Refresh 3 (TR-3) program would function the “spine” for the upcoming Block 4 upgrades involving new weapons and processors, in addition to sensor fusion, information processing and digital warfare. This system skilled extreme glitches, following which the Pentagon stopped accepting deliveries in July 2023, resulting in plane piling up at Lockheed’s Texas amenities.
The Block 4 consists of {hardware} upgrades to 75 main programs, with enhancements to the digital warfare suite, radar, EOTS (Electro-Optical Monitoring System), higher cockpit shows, navigation and communication programs and a next-generation Distributed Aperture System (DAS). A lately confirmed improve that can include Block 4 is the brand new APG-85 AESA radar, which is able to exchange the present APG-81.
Unclassified slides from Lockheed Martin additionally present Auto Floor Collision Avoidance System integration, a brand new Open System Structure, Multi-Area Operations and Missile Protection capabilities, Manned-Unmanned Teaming and prolonged vary with the usage of exterior gas tanks.
The troubles
The TR-3 skilled extreme glitches, following which the Pentagon stopped accepting deliveries in July 2023, resulting in plane piling up at Lockheed’s Texas amenities. As per a Might 2024 GAO (Authorities Accountability Workplace) report, the TR-3 software program couldn’t help the F-35’s radar and digital warfare programs.
The report added some check pilots needed to reboot their radar and EW programs mid-flight in an try to resolve points. “Program officers acknowledged that early variations of radar and in-flight programs software program can generally expertise rebooting points,” the GAO stated. “Nonetheless, even after being almost a 12 months delayed, TR-3 software program continues to be unstable, based on check officers.”
US Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II fighters take off from UK plane service HMS Prince of Wales forward of Train Talisman Sabre 🇬🇧🇺🇸
We prepare collectively, we stand collectively, we struggle collectively.@thef35 pic.twitter.com/lTFyNzbFml
— UK Defence Employees in US (@UKdefUS) July 15, 2025
The Built-in Core Processor, developed by L3Harris, is central to this improve. It exponentially enhances information processing and sensor fusion speeds that assist optimum decision-making and pilot help in advanced and harmful missions. The TR-3 improve additionally features a newer, bigger show.
Whereas issues had been being labored on, Lockheed Martin continued to construct planes outfitted with a “truncated” TR-3, as per an association with the DoD and the F-35 JPO (Joint Program Workplace), to supply a number of the deliberate capabilities. Freshly constructed airframes with the interim TR-3 model started deliveries from July 2024 onwards when the embargo was lifted, with the primary two TR-3 prepared F-35As delivered to Danny Airfield, Alabama, and Nellis AFB, Nevada.
The totally matured and the whole software program bundle could be retrofitted on the delivered F-35 airframes as soon as work on it’s achieved. As we reported right here at The Aviationist in Might 2024, the retrofit requires 14 days of downtime and could be carried out throughout scheduled upkeep.
Eielson F-35A Lightning II’s arrived in Guam for Resolute Power Pacific 25!
REFORPAC is using greater than 400 Joint and coalition plane and greater than 12,000 members at greater than 50 areas throughout 3,000 miles. #DLE2025 #ReadyAF pic.twitter.com/Jhax3KHucZ
— Eielson Air Power Base (@EielsonAirForce) July 14, 2025
F-35 future
Bloomberg reported in September 2023 that the Pentagon was additionally withholding $7 million per plane, translating into Lockheed Martin doubtlessly dropping as much as $800 million in dues and sale revenues. Reuters put the determine at $5 million a chunk, including that the quantity was lowered to about $1.2 million in January 2025, after Lockheed made progress on the TR-3 points.
The corporate’s efforts to hurry up F-35 deliveries additionally come amid lowered F-35 acquisition within the FY2026 price range, because the plane contributes about 30% of its income. Protection Information reported that the Air Power would procure solely 24 F-35As in 2026 for roughly $4 billion, lower than the 44 F-35s, costing $4.8 billion, the Air Power is on monitor to purchase this 12 months, and the 51 jets, price $5.5 billion, the service purchased in 2024.
Former senior Air Power officers lately criticized the transfer in an open letter, pointing to how such reductions will undermine the US’ deterrence earlier than its adversaries and damage navy readiness. The E-7A Wedgetail AEW&C plane is one other platform which might not obtain further orders, whereas the Air Power plans to switch it with the E-2 Hawkeye utilized by the U.S. Navy.
