UK expects ‘short-term’ delays in F-35 deliveries

LONDON — Britain’s Ministry of Defence has confirmed that software-update problems in the F-35 program will hit aircraft deliveries, though a key official said the delay is unlikely to affect the timing for proclaiming the fleet fully operationally capable next year.

“We are aware of the current short-term delays to U.K. aircraft deliveries,” Procurement Minister James Cartlidge wrote in a letter to the chairman of the parliamentary Defence Committee, Jeremy Quin. “At this time, it is not assessed to impact the scheduled FOC declaration at the end of 2025,” he added, referring to the term Full Operational Capability, a milestone in military-procurement lore that indicates an acquisition program is performing as planned.

The references to software issues on the F-35B being delivered to the British came in a wider update by Cartlidge, published by the Committee last month, on progress in the acquisition and operation of the Lockheed Martin-built jets jointly operated by the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy.

Britain is one of a number of F-35 customers facing delivery disruptions caused by Lockheed Martin’s problems completing development testing of a software update known as Technical Refresh 3.

The company has pledged to address the issue. “We continue to produce at rate and expect to begin delivering TR-3 jets in the third quarter, with a 2024 delivery target of 75-110, ” spokesman Andrew Boyle said. “Over 90% of the TR-3 functionality is currently in flight test, with additional focus underway to address consistent performance and closure of improvements identified in the lab.”

The setbacks appear to have no bearing on negotiations for a further order of F-35B aircraft, as the minister’s letter says he expects to complete internal approvals process for the procurement of a new tranche of 27 jets this summer.

Inflation and foreign exchange costs were the key challenges over the previous 18 months, with effects likely to be reflected in the price of the next batch of jets for the British, says the letter.

“It is anticipated that the price of each aircraft in Lots 15-17 will increase marginally by around 6%. This is predominately due to increasing manufacturing costs associated with inflationary pressures. Inflation and foreign exchange continue to be a concern to the program, as do the recent savings pressures levied across the department,” Cartlidge wrote.

Despite the growing concerns over the affordability of the British defense equipment program over the next decade or so, the letter says funding for this next phase of the F-35 procurement has been ring-fenced.

The purchase of the jets will bring the UK fleet up to 74, realizing long-term ambitions to increase the air power punch of the Royal Navy’s two aircraft carriers. The additional jets will allow the British to create a third front line squadron by 2033.

The government recently said it remains committed to buying 138 jets over the life of the program but gave no date for doing so.

The number and timing of further jet purchases will likely be considered again in a new strategic defense review, expected to follow a general election set to take place by early 2025.

This story was updated on April 4 to include a statement from F-35 manufacturer Lockheed Martin.

Andrew Chuter is the United Kingdom correspondent for Defense News.

伦敦——英国国防部已证实，F-35 项目的软件更新问题将影响飞机交付，但一位重要官员表示，此次延误不太可能影响明年宣布该机队完全具备作战能力的计划。

“我们注意到英国飞机交付目​​前存在短期延误，”采购部长詹姆斯·卡特里奇在致议会国防委员会主席杰里米·奎因的信中写道。“目前评估认为，这不会影响原定于2025年底宣布的全面作战能力（FOC）声明，”他补充道。他所指的“全面作战能力”是军事采购领域的一个里程碑，表明采购项目正按计划进行。

卡特里奇在上个月由委员会发布的一份更广泛的更新报告中提到了交付给英国的 F-35B 的软件问题，该报告介绍了英国皇家空军和皇家海军联合使用的洛克希德·马丁公司制造的喷气式飞机的采购和运营进展情况。

英国是众多面临交付中断的 F-35 客户之一，这些中断是由于洛克希德·马丁公司在完成名为“技术更新 3”的软件更新的开发测试时遇到问题造成的。

该公司已承诺解决该问题。发言人安德鲁·博伊尔表示：“我们将继续按计划生产，预计将于第三季度开始交付TR-3喷气式飞机，2024年的交付目标为75-110架。目前，TR-3超过90%的功能正在进行飞行测试，同时我们也在重点关注性能稳定性以及实验室中发现的改进措施。”

这些挫折似乎对进一步订购 F-35B 战机的谈判没有影响，因为部长在信中表示，他预计将在今年夏天完成采购新一批 27 架战机的内部审批程序。

信中指出，过去 18 个月的主要挑战是通货膨胀和外汇成本，其影响可能会反映在下一批英国喷气式飞机的价格上。

卡特里奇写道：“预计第15至17批次每架飞机的价格将小幅上涨约6%。这主要是由于通胀压力导致制造成本上升。通货膨胀和外汇波动仍然是该项目关注的问题，近期整个部门面临的节约压力也是如此。”

尽管人们越来越担心英国国防装备计划在未来十年左右的可负担性，但信中表示，F-35采购下一阶段的资金已经专款专用。

此次采购将使英国皇家海军的战机数量增至74架，实现其提升两艘航母空中力量的长期目标。新增战机还将使英国能够在2033年前组建第三个一线战机中队。

政府最近表示，仍致力于在该项目周期内购买 138 架喷气式飞机，但没有给出具体日期。

预计在 2025 年初大选之后，新的战略国防评估将再次考虑进一步购买喷气式飞机的数量和时间。

本文于 4 月 4 日更新，加入了 F-35 制造商洛克希德·马丁公司的声明。

Andrew Chuter 是《防务新闻》的英国记者。