www.defensenews.com
As others have pointed out Milestone C is required before going FRP and currently JSE is the biggest issue. Besides, some on Capito Hill are pitching the idea of waiting for the Block 4. As for the rate of production itself, FRP is aiming for over 200 aircrafts a year. Currently it's sitting on mid 100s
Yup. Under revised plans Block 4 wouldn't be ready at least until 2029 so I think it's a reasonable development. The numbers I've mentioned (over 200 a year) is purely a mid- to long-term goal by the JPO and LM.
Don't forget the merging of ASTOVL, which led to the biggest problem (F-35B and its problems) in the JSF program during 2000s in retrospect.
But the last of the hardware changes for Block 4 are coming with Lot 17 in two or so years, after that it's just continual software updates for Block 4. If you ask me it makes the most sense to increase production rates as soon as Lot 17 or later is available. Because there won't need to be any retrofits, the aircraft will be full Block 4 hardware standard off the line. They'll have Block 4 software too (I believe every aircraft starting with the TR-3 jets this summer will off the line), just not the final versions of the software.
Yup. TR-3 will be implemented starting lot 15. Problem is that C2D2 software implementation is, imo, at least half or more the entire Block 4 program. I'm not sure if the plans to get all Block 4 hardware implementation by lot 17 is still the plan, for which I cannot comment upon, but even if that's the case I'd think that the AF/JPO and CH will all want to know which direction the AETP will proceed since it is also integral in providing Block 4 capabilities their required power and cooling.
Sure, the Block 4 software from C2D2 is a core part of the Block 4 program. It's what makes it all work. But software is basically free to retrofit on to existing airframes. As a result I personally don't see a reason to hold off on airframe orders once last of the hardware changes are in for Block 4 (i.e. Lot 17 and after). And as far as I can tell Lot 17 is still planned to be the last of the Block 4 hardware changes. Even the new AN/APG-85 radar we didn't even know about until just now is supposedly planned for Lot 17 aircraft.
eurasiantimes.com
They didn't officially leave the F-35 program as far as I know. Pretty sure they kept up the needed payments the entire time that they were going through their fighter replacement saga. They seem to be getting them on the same timeline as everyone else. Germany signed their deal last month and will get their first jets in 2026, same year as Canada.
I thought that was the whole reason for all of this?
Article notes that Lockheed is "on-track to deliver [TR-3] capability to the U.S. and its allies starting in 2023." That matches with the original plan of the first production TR-3 jets being delivered in July, but also doesn't contradict that Bloomberg article that claimed there was going to be a several month delay past July for the first production TR-3 jet deliveries. I've still yet to see that claim repeated outside that Bloomberg article so will be interesting to see how it actually shakes out.F-35 Conducts First Flight with TR-3
A developmental test team from the 461st Flight Test Squadron conducted the first flight of an F-35 in the Technology Refresh 3 (TR-3) configuration January 6, at Edwards Air Force Base, California.www.dvidshub.net
The plan is to retrofit most, if not all, exisiting jets to TR3 standard as well.F-35 Conducts First Flight with TR-3
A developmental test team from the 461st Flight Test Squadron conducted the first flight of an F-35 in the Technology Refresh 3 (TR-3) configuration January 6, at Edwards Air Force Base, California.
Specifically, the USAF plans to have Lot 5 to 10 aircraft retrofitted to Lot 15 standard and Lot 11 to 16 aircraft retrofitted to Lot 17 standard. The USN will do the same but also retrofitted Lot 4 aircraft to Lot 15 standard. I'm unsure what the USMC's plans are, but I'd guess there will be roughly 50 F-35s of all types that don't end up getting upgraded. They will most likely end up in training and adversary roles.The plan is to retrofit most, if not all, exisiting jets to TR3 standard as well.F-35 Conducts First Flight with TR-3
A developmental test team from the 461st Flight Test Squadron conducted the first flight of an F-35 in the Technology Refresh 3 (TR-3) configuration January 6, at Edwards Air Force Base, California.
To be fair, how many major weapons systems, especially current generation aircraft, were ever so widely delivered across the globe? A lot of countries have very different relationships and price schemes with the US, from UK to Finland to Israel to Singapore. Those are vastly different relationships.
The two largest buyers - USAF and International partners - would disagree. The former wants the upgraded performance and weapons that are promised with block 4, and the latter wants its own weapons integrated on the platform. All customers want to avoid having to buy TR-2 hardware and then pay millions down the road in upgrade costs. The urgency to upgrade is partly because of the want to avoid having to integrate weapons badly needed now and in the near term with the older hardware. LRASM/JASSM comes with Block 4 but imagine if you also had to integrate this with TR-2 hardware.
