March - US air force mag reporting Vice Adm. Winter, F-35 Program Executive Officer, December interview, current position, don't think anything new.
The F-35 is expected to complete initial operational test and evaluation late this year, certifying the Block 3F version is fully combat-ready.
Block 4 comprises some 53 improvements to counter both air- and ground-based threats emerging from China and Russia [The Block 4 update program will allow the aircraft to finally meet its full contractual specifications]
TR3 makes the Block 4 improvements possible [planned for Lot 15 a/c due for delivery 2023.] Most existing [actual wish if funding available?] F-35s are getting the Technology Refresh 3 package. Known as TR3, Winter said it includes “updated cockpit displays, updated memory system capacity, and updated core processing and computer power.”
The first Block 4 update is planned for April 2019 // with updates every April and October starting in 2019 and continuing through at least 2024 // The Block 4 updates identified thus far have a completion point in the mid-2020s
Block 4 upgrades will be “80 percent” software [Continuous Capability Development and Deliver,C2D2, plan classed as high risk by Pentagon DOT&E]
The specific content of the Block 4 upgrade remains closely held, but breaks down broadly into six categories:
• Integration of seven new weapons, including the Small Diameter Bomb II, British weapons such as the ASRAAM [CSM version?] and Meteor air-to-air missiles; Turkey’s Standoff Missile and Norway’s Joint Strike Missile; [does not explicitly mention SPEAR 3]
• Eight logistics and support changes;
• 13 electronic warfare updates;
• Seven interoperability and networking changes;
• Seven cockpit and navigation upgrades; and
• 11 radar and electro-optical system enhancements.
Block 4 also adds a fifth basic mission, Winter said: “extended surface warfare.” Upgrades will enhance radar “for maritime surveillance, identification and targeting,” he explained, “because ‘maritime surface’ and ‘land surface’ are two different problems.” Search patterns on the open ocean will be improved, as will “being able to sense the order of battle in the maritime world.” [inclusion of Synthetic Aperture mode in updated radar as art of TR3?]
Although the F-35 can carry the new Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile, or LRASM, externally, Winter said the principal new anti-ship missiles coming in Block 4 are the JSOW C1 for the Navy and the Norwegian JSM. The program has “not been asked” about whether the stealthy LRASM can fit inside the F-35’s weapon bays, he said, nor has the Navy asked to integrate the SLAM-ER (Standoff Land Attack Missile-Extended Range) version of the Harpoon anti-ship missile.
Problems highlighted
ALIS, now known will be subject to a software re-write, [Lockheed to team with MIT, MITRE and SPAWAR to re-architect ALIS]
Mission Data Files " However, it still takes eight months to compile an MDF “because we’re using engineering/manufacturing tool suites that were used to just determine how to do this.”
Sustainment/operational costs remain too high, the Air Force has a goal to reduce F-35 sustainment costs by 38 percent “we are trying to pull that to the left” and accomplish it sooner than predicted.
Mission capable rates to at least 80 percent [from current 40%?]
From <
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