The most massive fifth-generation fighter jet in the world: the thousandth F-35 was built in the United States (photo)
The American company Lockheed Martin has produced the thousandth F-35 Lightning II, which has become the most mass-produced fifth-generation fighter jet in the world.
This was reported by The War Zone.
Journalists of the publication asked Lockheed Martin representatives about the status of F-35 deliveries, including the 1000th aircraft.
“F-35 production continues, and many units are at various stages of final assembly. Once the required TR-3 hardware and software arrive, production will resume, including those currently in the company’s parking lot. After that, the F-35s will be ready for delivery,” the company’s press service said.
This is how Lockheed describes the situation with delays in aircraft deliveries, which, despite constant production, are not delivered to the customer but to the company’s warehouses due to the refusal to accept the aircraft for service by the US Air Force.
The basis for this delay is the project to upgrade the aircraft to Block 4, or rather its hardware and software upgrade, Technology Refresh 3 or TR-3. Unfortunately, TR-3 is already a year behind the original schedule.
Technology Refresh 3
The first flight test of the TR-3 revealed software problems that were overlooked during laboratory tests, according to a recent Government Accountability Office report [GAO]. For this reason, starting at the end of this summer, all F-35 aircraft coming off the assembly line with the TR-3 upgrade will not be accepted into service until their combat capabilities are confirmed.
The TR-3 remains a vital component for the future capabilities of the F-35. Delays related to the TR-3 include the 1,000th F-35 produced.
However, despite the delay, Lockheed Martin continues to produce jets, accumulating stocks in Fort Worth, Texas.
Будівництво винищувача F-35 у цеху Lockheed Martin
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According to Greg Ulmer, executive vice president of Lockheed’s Aeronautics Division, the F-35 Block 4 will be fundamentally better, similar to a completely new aircraft in many aspects.
The TR-3 upgrade, which forms the IT backbone of the modification, will include a new integrated base processor required to integrate new generation sensors, including the EOTS optoelectronic location system.
Despite the problems, the production of 1000 aircraft remains a major achievement. Currently, 17 countries participate in the international Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program.
As of early January, F-35 aircraft have accumulated more than 773,000 hours of flight time, trained more than 2,280 pilots and 15,400 engineers in 14 aviation services worldwide, and flown more than 469,000 sorties. Currently, there are 32 air bases and 11 ships in the world that house or are capable of receiving F-35 fighters.
