As part of its annual activity report, Lockheed Martin confirmed that throughout the past year, 2024, a total of 110 new F-35 stealth fighters were delivered to the United States Armed Forces and other allied countries. Additionally, the report highlights that this achievement surpassed the global milestone of 1,100 fifth-generation aircraft delivered to combat fleets of various air forces, despite delays in the development of the Tech Refresh 3 (TR-3) upgrade.
While Lockheed Martin delivered up to 22 more F-35s after December 4, 2024, the overall target fell short of the expected number within the framework of the international delivery program for 2024. Originally, the goal was set at 156 aircraft per year, but this was not met due to delays in the certification of the Block 4 software for the Tech Refresh 3 avionics, a faster processor with new displays and other enhancements, which had not yet been fully tested. Consequently, the Joint Program Office (JPO) decided not to accept the aircraft without the newly certified configuration. By September 2024, there were at least 80 proposed modifications for the fighter jet, including updates in communication, navigation, and electronic warfare systems, which were still incomplete.
In July 2024, the JPO lifted the delivery hold after agreeing to accept F-35s with a “truncated” version of the TR-3 software, allowing the resumption of aircraft deliveries and the initiation of pilot training with the new configuration. This reduced version of the software, deemed safe for limited operations, enabled training with many systems and weapons intended for future fighters, partially mitigating the significant delays caused by setbacks in the Flight Test Campaign and the integration of the upgrade into newly produced aircraft from Lockheed Martin’s plants.
Following this approval, Lockheed Martin delivered the first two F-35 Lightning II aircraft under the Technology Refresh-3 (TR-3) standard in July, followed by another batch in August. Moreover, as mentioned earlier, Lockheed Martin supplied up to 22 more F-35s after December 4, 2024, the last monthly update before the end of the year.
Despite the delays, the delivery pause led to significant stockpiling of F-35 fighters, estimated to have reached nearly 100 units, which created logistical issues for the company due to a lack of space for additional stealth fighters at its facilities. Finally, the JPO expects Lockheed Martin to authorize the TR-3 software for operational missions by the end of this year.
*Photographs used for illustrative purposes.
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