We’re talking about aircraft with the Tech Refresh 3 software update. The Pentagon has already stated that delays reduce their ability to take command of modern aircraft that can withstand the most serious threats.
Lockheed Martin has announced another delay in the delivery of its F-35 fighter aircraft to the US Air Force. The latest version of the aircraft won’t be delivered until at least April, and possibly June, due to hardware and software issues, according to Defense One.
Lockheed also reported that the company plans to supply 100-120 aircraft to the US Air Force, but currently due to problems, the air force cannot receive more than 97 aircraft. We are talking specifically about the modern Tech Refresh (TR-2) configuration of the F-35 and is currently working on the next update known as Tech Refresh 3.
TR-3 warplanes will have the additional computing power needed to improve the sensors and weapons in Block 4. However, the delivery of the TR-3 aircraft was delayed due to software and other development issues.
Lockheed explained in a statement that the problem lay in the development of an integrated processor core by L3Harris, which led to a failure in the overall chain.
Important
“Hardware development issues affected the integration of hardware and software, resulting in a shortening of the software testing program,” Lockheed said.
As a result, the company was supposed to deliver 9 TR-3s per month, but the Pentagon won’t accept them until they pass certain tests. Air Force leaders say the delays have reduced their ability to command warplanes that can deal with the most serious threats.
It was previously reported that the US Air Force had sent a squadron of F-35 fighter jets to the Middle East, after which Russian aircraft in Syria stopped acting so aggressively against American drones. According to US Air Force officials, the number of aggressive “stops” to Russian pilots has decreased significantly.
Source: Focus
Alfred Hart is an accomplished journalist known for his expert analysis and commentary on global affairs. He currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker, where he provides readers with in-depth coverage of the most pressing issues affecting the world today. With a keen insight and a deep understanding of international politics and economics, Alfred’s writing is a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the world we live in.