U.S. Air Force tests F-35 Lightning II fighter in Technology Refresh 3 configuration for the first time

The United States Air Force finally conducted the first test of the fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter in a Technology Refresh 3 (TR-3) configuration.

Here's What We Know

The U.S. Air Force's 461st Flight Test Squadron tested the aircraft's capabilities at Edwards Air Force Base in California. As part of the test, the fifth-generation fighter performed a 50-minute flight at an altitude of 10.7 kilometers (35,000 feet) over the Mojave Desert. The F-35 Lightning II was able to reach speeds close to the speed of sound (343 m/s).

TR-3 is a critical upgrade to the fighter's computing electronics. It aims to significantly increase the aircraft's core processing power and memory capacity. The test, which took place last week in California, was part of a large flight-testing campaign. It will run through 2023.

Source: Edwards