The U.S. Air Force 461st Flight Test Squadron based at Edwards Air Force Base has received a unique specially instrumented F-35A fighter designed to enhance the much delayed testing of new software.
The new aircraft is expected to help accelerate efforts to bring the F-35’s software fully up to the Technology Refresh 3 (TR-3) standard, which is critical to keeping up with the latest advances in Chinese fifth generation fighter programs, and eventually facilitating bringing the F-35 up to the Block 4 capability standard in the early-mid 2030.
The issue of delays has been serious enough that in July 2023 the Joint Program Office placed F-35 procurements on hold, with the Pentagon refusing to approve deliveries specifically because TR-3 software had not been fully tested.
Commenting on the importance of the new to accelerating development world, the director of the F-35 Integrated Test Force Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Prudhomme observed: “As the world’s only F-35A capable of evaluating both mission systems and flight sciences, this new asset is key for rapidly fielding advanced capabilities to the warfighter.” “This new aircraft arrives at a crucial time, supporting intensive testing of TR-3 software upgrades and next-generation weapons integration,” he added.
US Air Force Receives Specially Modified Fighter with a Critical Role: The Most Important F-35 in the Fleet
American Buddhist Net 