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 the F-35 Integrated Test Force, explained in a January 11, 2023, F-35 Joint Program Office statement, “Technology Refresh 3 modernizes the computational core of the F-35 air vehicle.
Therefore, new TR-3 hardware and software affect nearly every aircraft feature. Today's event was just the start of a comprehensive flight test campaign that will both verify and improve the safety, stability, and performance of the whole F-35 weapon system in this new configuration." With such substantive changes, the F-35 had to be thoroughly flight-tested with TR-3 before F-35s with TR-3 could be delivered.
One can see below a couple of US Air Force photos from that first test flight: However, TR-3 will not be the final update for the F-35. A Lockheed Martin spokesperson shared with Simple Flying that, “We expect continual software updates related to TR-3 insertions and Block 4 capabilities, with major milestone software drops along the way, to ensure we are always providing our customers with the most advanced technology.” Ultimately, the need to test-fly TR-3 has led to delays—delays that have affected the US Department of Defense’s F-35 inventory plans as covered on September 15 .
We examine the US Air Force's F-35 inventory plans in depth and make some comparisons. This coverage builds on Simple Flying’s May 19 report on the F-35 backlog . In that report, other issues caused delays in delivering F-35s, such as the fact that F135 jet engine parts came late or were defective.
There are also issues with the F-35’s leading slat on the front of the wing that should be resolved by January 2025. Clearing the F-35 backlog With that, Air & Space Forces Magazine has reported Lockheed Martin Aeronautics President Greg Ulmer shared with them on September 19 that, “It’s going to take us 12-18 months to get those aircraft and [the] backlog out.” Meanwhile, those F-35s – numbering over 100 according to multiple sources – had already had two of four necessary checks done before placement into storage.
Additionally, the stored F-35s were powered on and off occasionally to keep them in top shape. Plus all delivered and stored F-35s will have TR-3. Keep up with the latest Simple Flying coverage of military aviation here .
Bottom line: TR-3 is very important to F-35's future success With international customers happy with negotiations on their place in the delivery schedule, deliveries will kick back up and every effort made to safely get those F-35s delivered. However, with over 1,000 F-35s delivered, the question is whether TR-3, with all its capabilities, will be given to the previous F-35s built, when, and where. One would hope that, with these upgrades profiled above by the F-35 program's official social media, this is the case.
However, Lockheed Martin was unable to clarify by press time..
