Lockheed Martin maintains the pace of F-35 production and has completed 77 test flights of the upgraded fighters

Lockheed Martin continues to work to resolve a problem with the software component of the Technology Refresh 3 (TR-3) upgrade. Although deliveries of the fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighters have been halted, the company is continuing production.

Here's What We Know

As recently as last month, we learnt that Lockheed Martin would be sending aircraft with TR-3 hardware into storage while deliveries of the F-35 TR-2 would continue. The Pentagon has already deferred payments of $7 million for each of the first four F-35 TR-3 fighters.

Lockheed Martin said it will continue to produce the aircraft as scheduled, meaning nine units each month until the end of 2023. By the new year, 52 fighter jets will be in storage.

The TR-3 will significantly improve the fifth-generation fighter's computing capabilities and will be the basis for Block 4 modernisation. The F-35 TR-3 first took to the air in early 2023. As of 31 July, the company had conducted 77 flight tests.

Lockheed Martin previously claimed it would resolve the software issue by the end of autumn. The Pentagon was more pessimistic in its estimates, planning to resume deliveries by mid-spring next year.

Source: Bloomberg