The F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) and Lockheed Martin, the prime contractor for the F-35 Lightning II, announced that deliveries of the first F-35 aircraft with Technology Refresh-3 (TR-3) configuration began today.

Two F-35A Lightning II aircraft were delivered, one to Dannelly Field, Alabama, and one to Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.

“We have initiated a phased approach for the delivery of TR-3 F-35 aircraft,” said Lt. Gen. Mike Schmidt, JPO program director.

“The first phase will deliver jets with an initial training capability in July and August. By the end of August, we will deliver jets with a robust combat training capability as we move toward delivering full TR-3 combat capabilities in 2025. We have focused on delivering aircraft to our customers that are stable, capable and maintainable, and this phased approach does that.”

The newly delivered aircraft follow standard government acceptance procedures, including final airworthiness certifications and check flights.

“TR-3 and Block 4 represent a critical evolution in capability and their full development remains a top priority for us,” said Bridget Lauderdale, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 program. “These and further software updates throughout the life of the program will ensure the F-35 remains an effective deterrent and the cornerstone of joint operations across all domains, now and for decades into the future.”

“I am extremely proud of all the hard work the government and industry team have put into delivering the TR-3 configured F-35s. This is an important first step and while there is much work to be done, I am confident our team will work tirelessly to deliver the desired and necessary results our warfighters, allies and customers require.” said Schmidt.

What does all this mean?

The Technology Refresh 3 (TR-3) upgrade for the F-35 brings significant improvements in computing power. These improvements include advanced sensor suites that increase the aircraft’s ability to detect and respond to threats. Additionally, when integrated, the F-35 will gain improved long-range precision weapons, allowing it to engage targets more accurately from greater distances.

Another critical aspect of the TR-3 upgrade is the improvement to the F-35’s electronic warfare systems, making the jet better able to counter and survive advanced threats. Enhanced data fusion capabilities allow for better analysis and sharing of information on the battlefield, increasing the jet’s effectiveness in coordinated combat operations.

At the heart of the TR-3 upgrade is a significant increase in processing power and memory capacity. This boost enables the F-35 to run advanced software required for modern warfare. These wide-ranging improvements affect nearly every function of the aircraft, improving safety, stability and performance, and ensuring that the F-35 remains at the cutting edge of military aviation technology. At least in theory.