All articles tagged with #block 4
The F-35 Block 4 modernization has been delayed until at least 2031, two years later than previously projected, due to scope reductions, schedule delays, and engine upgrade postponements, with costs to be estimated in 2025. Meanwhile, aircraft and engine deliveries continue to face delays, and the GAO criticizes the incentive fee structure for contractor accountability.
Newly built F-35 Joint Strike Fighters equipped with Tech Refresh 3 (TR-3) hardware will not be accepted by the US government until ongoing testing for the system is completed, according to the F-35 Joint Program Office. The TR-3 system provides the computing backbone to enable Block 4, a suite of new capabilities for the Joint Strike Fighter. The F-35 program planned to have TR-3 available by April 2023, putting plans about a year behind the current schedule. The F-35 program also separately paused deliveries recently due to a vibration issue known as harmonic resonance in the fighter’s engine.