Recent reporting about Lockheed Martin’s ongoing struggle to integrate Tech Refresh 3 (TR-3) into all three variants of F-35 shows that the integration has created an 18-month backlog. However, TR-3 has many enhancements that will make the world’s F-35s even more capable, which justifies the delays. But first: What will TR-3 do for the F-35? First, what is TR-3? According to a Lockheed Martin website, “TR-3 introduces open mission systems architecture, a new integrated core processor with greater computing power, an enhanced panoramic cockpit display, a larger memory unit, and other classified capabilities.
” In other words, TR-3 is an upgrade to the F-35’s computers to allow the F-35 to use improved software to use the F-35’s hardware more effectively. Additionally, there is the below one-page brochure from subcontractor L3Harris helping explain the computing power behind TR-3: As the infographic suggests, TR-3 is about acutely bringing more data to the F-35 pilot. L3Harris also produces the core processor at the heart of the TR-3 effort.
According to L3Harris, the core processor can take more than 2,900 Dhrystone instructions per second (DMIPS) and support video up to 2560×1600, or 4.1 megapixels. This is higher than 1080p television but less than 4K TV.
One can review another L3Harris infographic below to see just how TR-3 will make the F-35 better: However, as Air Force Lt. Col. Christopher Campbell, commander of the 461st Flight Test Squadron and director of .