The latest report by the pentagons chief weapons tester, michael gilmore, forecast a possible month delay in completing testing of the block 2b software needed for the marine corps to clear the jets for initial combat use next year, a priority given the high cost of maintaining current aging warplanes. Block 1a1b block 1 comprises 78 percent of the more than 8. Overall, dellavedova said the f35 program office has been making substantial progress. The report forecast a possible month delay in completing testing of the block 2b software needed for the marine corps to clear the jets for initial combat use next year, a priority given the. It provides enhanced training including functionality for offboard fusion, initial data links, electronic attack and mission debrief.
The f35, you may recall, is delivering its mission capabilities in a series of incremental software blocks, designated as block 1a b, block 2a, block 2b, block 3i, and block 3f. F 35 full combat capability will be four months late. Block 3f mission systems software is currently undergoing developmental test dt, and many of the deficiencies discovered in blocks 2b and 3i software will be corrected in block 3f. Assessing progress on the joint strike fighter program. According to the air combat command history, air force brass were also worried that the absence of a firm deadline for warreadiness would hurt the f 35 s sales. Software block 2b, while still short of the full final 3f software configuration, can provide data link capabilities and. The 3i software is a key air force ioc requirement, and the program had been working to test and approve a fix to ongoing stability issues that required frequent reboots every three to four hours of aircraft subsystems in flight. The aim9x missile, which can also be fired at surfacetoair and airtosurface, is currently in use on a number of. The block 2b software also restricts the number of gs pilots can pull to 7g when maneuvering.
Software drop 3i, which is a technical refresh of block 2b, is slated to by ready by 2016. Block 2a block 2a is currently released to the f35 fleet. The marine corps f35b aircraft are being delivered with block 2b software, which gilmore said has hundreds of unresolved deficiencies. White house releases national strategy for 5g security. An f35a lightning ii joint strike fighter takes off on a training sortie at eglin air force base, florida in this march 6, 2012 file photo. It provides enhanced training including functionality for offboard fusion, initial data links, electronic attack and. The 3i software is a key air force ioc requirement, and the program had been working to test and approve a fix to ongoing stability issues that required frequent reboots every three to four hours of aircraft subsystems in.
The pentagon and lockheed are pursuing a tech refresh effort with the f 35 intended to improve the stealth fighters targeting attack technology, weapons delivery and onboard computing. Marine corps f 35bs when they declared initial operational. For example, completion of weapons delivery accuracy events lagged the plans for cy14 and was put on hold in. F35 joint strike fighter soon to be armed with aim9x.
F35 software isnt ready for prime time, pentagon report. If used in combat, the block 2b f35 will need support from command and control elements to avoid threats, assist in target acquisition, and control weapons employment for the limited weapons. F 35 joint strike fighter soon to be armed with aim9x missile and jdam. Lockheed martin gives the outline of the block updates here. The f35 joint program office jpo has completed development of the aircraft s software blocks 2b and 3i, according to a statement from prime contractor lockheed martin lmt. It is currently using block 3i software, which is similar to the 2b software but supporting some different processor hardware. F 35 software testing slowed by flight restrictions. Usmcs older f35bs may only be able to fly around a. The marine corps f35b will begin operations with air vehicle block 2b software. The air force declared ioc for the f 35a a few months ago. An f35a lightning ii joint strike fighter takes off on a training sortie at eglin air force base. The f 35 software runs every critical system in the airplane including flight controls, radar functionality.
The marine corps declared its first f 35s operationalthat is, combatreadywith version block 2b software while the. Lockheed martin has begun testing the final version of the f 35 s block 2b software that the us. F35 program office signs off on air force 3i software. The f35 joint programme office jpo has stabilised a glitchprone combination of software and hardware called block 3i, potentially clearing the way for the us air forces first lightning ii combat squadron to declare initial operational capability ioc between august and december. Pentagon report faults f35 on software, reliability. But, the most common block is 3i yet some early aircraft are still block 2b. F35 program office confident marine joint strike fighter. The same fixes have also been incorporated into a new version of the block 2b software. Update block 1a was the readyfortraining configuration while block 1b provided initial multilevel security. The final f 35 configuration at the end of sdd is 3f, which is what has been getting delivered for about 1 year. Fighters that lockheed martin delivered to eglin air force base in florida, which is home. Block 1a was the ready for training configuration while block 1b provided initial multilevel security. Software glitch causes f35 to incorrectly detect targets in formation.
F 35b aircraft bf1 and bf4 completed mode 4 formation testing required for block 2b software capability. Initial results with the new increment of block 2b software indicate deficiencies still exist in fusion, radar, electronic. Block 2b software enables the f 35 to provide basic close air support with certain jdams and the 500 lb gbu12 paveway ii, as well as fire the aim120 amraam. Block 3f is part of the 8 million lines of sophisticated software code that underpin the f 35, more than four times the amount of the worlds first 5th generation fighter, the f 22 raptor, says the official website of the project. But with congress breathing down the militarys neck, hostage backtracked from his openended timeline. Software glitch causes f35 to incorrectly detect targets. F35 tech refresh enables new attack technology, ai. The f 35 program chief, air force lieutenant general chris bogdan, gave members of a house armed services subcommittee a detailed account of the good, the bad and the ugly about the pentagon. F35 locked and loaded with improved block 3i software f. The air force is to declare the f 35 initially operational with block 3i software. The jpo will begin to upgrade the f 35 fleet with the new 3i software beginning this week, dellavedova said.
F35 training system, logistic system ready for operations. Under the best case scenario, the only aircraft that would remain concurrency orphans are the 108 air force block 2b and 3i f. F35 report card gives thumbsdown to block buy defense. Fighters that lockheed martin delivered to eglin air force base in florida, which is home to an integrated training. Eventually, the 3f software will replace the current 2b software in the 33rd fighter wings f 35as. Concluding block 2b and 3i development and testing now allows the f35 program to focus on completing block 3f the full warfighting capability software, the release states. Currently, airmen at eglin afb train on aircraft with block 2b software while aircraft used in the combat air force have upgraded to the 3f software system. F35 maintenance reporting evolves as aircraft matures. The air force just bought 100 stealth fighters that cant. The marine corps plans to declare their shorttakeoffandlanding f 35b variant ready for combat by june of this year by declaring whats called initial operating capability, or ioc, with the 2b version of the software. Dod completes f35 block 2b, 3i software development. Testing of two earlier versions of the f 35 software, blocks 2b and 3i, took longer than. F 35 jsf 39 the system design and development phase as planned in 2018. Block 2b block 2b provides initial warfighting capabilities, including but not limited to expanded data links, multiship.
Mission data load mdl development and testing although the program has initiatives in work, the u. The corps schedule depends on using a more limited version of the software, known as block 2b, designed for use with such precisionguided weapons as the aim120c advanced mediumrange airtoair. The block 2b software also limits the f 35 s maneuverability and sensors. F35 full combat capability will be four months late. The final block of f35 development program capability, known as block 3f, provides a fully capable f35 aircraft and marks the end of the sdd program. F35 software overrun with bugs, dod testing chief warns.
Block 3 with only 30% into its development phase completed, the block 3i initial did no present a challenge other than being a technical refresh 2 version implementing the. In mode 4 operations, the stovl propulsion system is engaged, the lift fan, roll post nozzle, and threebearingswivel nozzle are operating, and all. This figure sometimes does not include the cost of the engine and it does not include the support and training equipment, spare parts, software upgrades, or contractor fees necessary to actually make the aircraft work. Most recently, the f 35 program is expected to miss a deadline for releasing the block 3f software upgrade.
Is americas most expensive weapon of war the ultimate failure. Marine fighter attack squadron vmfa 121, also known as the green knights, received the latest version of support software for the f 35 and all four of their full mission simulator trainers. Underpinning the f 35 s unrivaled capabilities is more than 8 million lines of software code more than four times the amount of the worlds first 5th generation fighter, the f 22 raptor. Lockheed martin f35 lightning ii development wikipedia. F35 software testing slowed by flight restrictions. Block 2b software, designed to manage missiles and bombs, was supposed to have been ready for use at the end of 2012, but as of august, only 10 percent had been delivered, the report said. Gao reported that developmental testing of block 2b. The gnu operating system and the free software movement pentagon seeks to cut f 35s, other equipment to pay for trumps. Each block builds on the mission capability developed in the preceding block. Missing the deadline will likely mean that the f 35 wont be ready for its july 2017. Lockheed martin spokesman mark johnson said monday block 3i software will provide the f35 with initial warfighting capability on upgraded computer hardware. Block 1a 1b block 1 comprises 78 percent of the more than 8.
All three f 35 models are supposed to have a life expectancy of 8,000 flight hours. And those problems have compounded in block 3f software. Software testing problems continue to plague f35 joint. Marine corps planned july 2015 initial operational capability ioc date, but a more pressing concern is modifying the existing joint strike fighter fleet to combatcapable standards. The block 2b would also be available for retrofit on bpard the 64 block 2a f 35 aircraft initially delivered as lot 4 and 5 and initially fitted with the block 2a release. The f35 program office is confident that the aircrafts block 2b software will be ready in time for the u. F 35s with block 2b software can carry just four different kinds of bombs and missilesfar fewer than the f 35 was designed to carry when the fully combatcapable block 3c software. F35 lightning ii flight test update 14 code one magazine. Software releases configurations for f35 lightning ii jsf. Block 2a software enhanced simulated weapons, data link capabilities, and early fused sensor integration.