U.S. Department of Defense announcements and financial statements

Pentagon Withholds $5 Million Per F-35 Jet Until TR-3 Upgrades Delivered

Aug 29, 2024, 02:55 PM

The U.S. Department of Defense is withholding the final $5 million payment for each F-35 jet until Lockheed Martin delivers the "combat capability" technology package, which includes the Technology Refresh-3 (TR-3) upgrades. Deliveries of F-35 jets to the U.S. military have resumed, but the Pentagon insists on the completion of these upgrades before releasing the withheld funds. This decision underscores the importance the Pentagon places on ensuring that the aircraft meet advanced hardware and software specifications necessary for combat readiness.