Lockheed running out of parking space amid F-35 delays, says watchdog
By Stephen Losey
May 16, 2024, 04:55 PM
A U.S. Air Force F-35A jet flies at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, on Jan. 11, 2024. A group of upgrades to the F-35's cockpit displays and computers is about a year late. (Staff Sgt. Kaitlyn Ergish/U.S. Air Force)
Lockheed Martin is running out of space to store undelivered F-35 Joint Strike Fighters as the jets’ upgrade effort remains behind schedule, the U.S. Government Accountability Office said in a report released Thursday.
Furthermore, the F-35 program’s testing capacity is stretched thin and will worsen once the Technology Refresh 3 software upgrade and the Block 4 update are ready, GAO found.
TR-3 involves a slate of improvements for the aircraft, such as improved cockpit displays, better computer memory and more processing power. TR-3 is needed before another group of more in-depth upgrades, known as Block 4, can be installed on the F-35. Block 4 will allow the jet to carry more weapons and provide upgrades to its electronic warfare capabilities.
https://www.navytimes.com/air/2024/05/16/lockheed-running-out-of-parking-space-amid-f-35-delays-says-watchdog/
