F-35s software issues continue and looking back on a fast Sabre
The TR3 upgrade for the Lightning isn't combat ready and remembering a record setting F-86 Sabre
"There are pilots and there are pilots; with the good ones, it is inborn. You can't teach it. If you are a fighter pilot, you have to be willing to take risks."
— Robin Olds
Before we get into the regular featured weekly sections of the newsletter, I have a special request to ask of you - I made a video all about the F-4 Phantom and why it is not only an iconic aircraft in military aviation, but also in my personal life. Read on to learn more and thank you!
Mission Briefing
The latest batch of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters has seen significant software upgrades, enabling more complex training missions. However, the U.S. government is holding back millions in payments to Lockheed Martin until these jets are fully combat-ready.
Lockheed Martin, in collaboration with the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO), announced on Thursday that the software in the newest F-35s has been enhanced to support "more robust combat training capability." Prior to this upgrade, the jets were limited to "initial training capability" due to a partial version of the Technology Refresh 3 (TR-3) software.
In July 2023, the government halted the acceptance of new TR-3-equipped F-35s from Lockheed due to issues with software integration and some hardware deficiencies. Despite this, Lockheed continued production and stored the jets at its Fort Worth, Texas, facility while searching for a solution.
Lockheed developed a truncated version of the TR-3 software, allowing the jets to perform basic training missions, but still falling short of combat readiness. In July 2024, after the government determined the truncated software was sufficient for training, deliveries resumed.
The TR-3 upgrades are crucial as they lay the foundation for the more expansive Block 4 upgrades, which will enhance the F-35’s capabilities, including increased weapon carrying capacity, improved target identification, and advanced electronic warfare functionalities.
While Lockheed Martin and top Air Force officials have committed to further improvements, it’s anticipated that the new jets won't be combat-ready until 2025. This delay has financial implications for Lockheed, with the government withholding approximately $5 million per jet until the TR-3 combat capability is fully qualified and delivered.
The latest F-35A, flown by the U.S. Air Force, is priced at about $82.5 million. The F-35B, designed for short takeoff and vertical landing and operated by the U.S. Marine Corps, costs around $109 million, while the F-35C, used by both the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps for carrier operations, is priced at approximately $102.1 million.
In addition to the ongoing software developments, Lockheed Martin and its partners are making significant investments in development labs and digital infrastructure to accelerate the F-35 program's progress.
The delays in delivering the TR-3-equipped jets have affected the Air Force and the broader Joint Strike Fighter program. Gen. James Hecker, commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe, noted in July that the delays had slowed the deployment of F-35s to RAF Lakenheath in England, where the Air Force's two European-based F-35 squadrons are stationed.
Although the TR-3 issues are not entirely resolved, Hecker emphasized that the current software is sufficient for training, with the expectation that newly delivered TR-3 jets will be sent to training bases first, before transferring combat-capable jets to Lakenheath.
However, the delays have also impacted the timeline for the Block 4 upgrades, further complicating the modernization efforts for the F-35 fleet. As Andrew Hunter, the Air Force's acquisition chief, stated, "We will not pay for that which we have not yet received."
This week in aviation history
3 September 1954: Major John L. “Jack” Armstrong of the U.S. Air Force made history at the Dayton Air Show, held for the first time at the James M. Cox Municipal Airport. Flying the North American Aviation F-86H-1-NH Sabre, tail number 52-1998, Armstrong set a Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) World Record for Speed Over a Closed Circuit of 500 Kilometers Without Payload. He averaged an impressive 1,045.206 kilometers per hour (649.461 miles per hour), showcasing the capabilities of this formidable aircraft.
The F-86H Sabre, a fighter-bomber variant of the legendary Sabre Jet, was designed with significant upgrades. It featured a more powerful General Electric J73-GE-3 turbojet engine, which was larger than the previous models’ J47. This required a larger air intake and modifications to the airframe, including a fuselage that was 6 inches deeper and two feet longer, allowing for greater fuel capacity. The tail surfaces were also enhanced, with an increased vertical fin height and an “all-flying” horizontal stabilizer.
Early F-86H models were equipped with six Browning AN-M3 .50 caliber machine guns, but this was quickly upgraded to four Pontiac M39 20mm revolver cannons, enhancing its firepower.
The F-86H Sabre measured 38 feet, 10 inches in length, with a wingspan of 39 feet, 1 inch, and a height of 14 feet, 11 inches. Its empty weight was 13,836 pounds, and it had a gross weight of 24,296 pounds.
Powered by the General Electric J73-GE-3D or -3E engine, the F-86H could reach speeds of 601 knots (692 mph) at sea level and 536 knots (617 mph) at 35,000 feet. It could climb at an initial rate of 12,900 feet per minute and reach 30,000 feet in just under six minutes. With a service ceiling of 50,800 feet, the Sabre had a combat radius of 350 nautical miles with a full bomb load, and a maximum ferry range of 1,573 nautical miles.
In its ground attack role, the F-86H could carry up to 2,310 pounds of bombs or one 12–24 kiloton Mark 12 “Special Store” for “toss bombing” missions.
Operational by 1954, 473 F-86H Sabres were built before production ended. By 1958, these aircraft were reassigned to the Air National Guard, with the last one being retired in 1972.
A special request
As mentioned at the top of the newsletter, my latest video which is all about the F-4 Phantom will be going live today (Tuesday) at 6:30PM Eastern US Time. I would love it if you could join me for the premiere, and if you can’t please do check out the video when you can:
Photo Outlet
A pair of USAF Thunderbirds taking off - I’ve seen their routine for decades and it still amazing to me:
Post Flight Debrief
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-Tog