{"id":133061,"date":"2026-02-16T01:00:35","date_gmt":"2026-02-15T19:30:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/?p=133061"},"modified":"2026-02-16T01:00:39","modified_gmt":"2026-02-15T19:30:39","slug":"usaf-confirms-17-f-35-deliveries-include-installed-radars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/16\/usaf-confirms-17-f-35-deliveries-include-installed-radars\/","title":{"rendered":"World’s Largest Air Force Confirms New 17 F-35 Deliveries Include Installed Radars"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

ARLINGTON-<\/strong> The US Air Force<\/a> confirmed Lot 17 F-35A deliveries include installed radars, countering earlier reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. Air Force stated that all newly delivered F-35A aircraft<\/a> retain operational radar systems, despite prior reporting suggesting jets arrived without radars amid the transition to the new APG-85 system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"World's
Photo: Airman 1st Class Dominic Tyler, 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs. | Wikimedia Commons
https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:US_Danish_Dutch_F-35A.jpg<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

USAF Confirms F-35 Deliveries with Radars<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The clarification follows reporting by TWZ, which examined claims that certain Lot 17 F-35A Joint Strike Fighters were delivered without radars due to complications involving integration of Northrop Grumman\u2019s new AN\/APG-85 radar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A spokesperson told TWZ<\/a> that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cUSAF F-35A lot 17 aircraft are delivering with APG-81 radars.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The spokesperson added that modernization plans involving the APG-85 remain classified for program security reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier, Defense Daily reported<\/a>, citing an anonymous source, that aircraft delivered since June had APG-85 mounting configurations incompatible with the existing APG-81 radar, suggesting some jets may have flown without radar systems installed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to that report:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cLockheed Martin has been delivering F-35s to the military services since last June without radars, including all F-35As.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The same source claimed radar-less aircraft required ballast weight adjustments and operated only alongside radar-equipped F-35s through data links. However, the Air Force now rejects that assertion for its operational fleet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"World's
Photo: By US Air Force \/ Ministerie van Defensie – bron: Ministerie van Defensie., CC BY-SA 4.0, https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=35205521<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

APG-85 Radar and Block 4 Upgrade Challenges<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Northrop Grumman has been developing the APG-85 radar since at least 2023 as part of the broader Block 4 modernization package. Block 4 aims to enhance combat effectiveness through multiple upgrades, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Replacement of the AN\/AAQ-37 Distributed Aperture System
\u2022 Upgraded Electro-Optical Targeting System
\u2022 New electronic warfare suite
\u2022 Expanded computing and sensor capabilities<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Air Force previously described the electronic warfare upgrade, which integrates with the APG-85 radar, as a high-priority capability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Block 4 continues to face schedule delays and rising costs. Integration also requires increased electrical power generation and thermal management capacity, which depend on engine upgrades that are themselves behind schedule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ: Largest Air Force Fighter Pilots Question Boeing\u2019s Ability to Deliver the F-47 on Time<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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F-35 Lightning II; Photo- Wikipedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Questions Remain on Radar Compatibility<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Despite the Air Force\u2019s clarification, unresolved questions remain about compatibility between APG-81 and APG-85 radar configurations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TWZ noted ongoing uncertainty about whether aircraft configured for APG-85 can temporarily accept APG-81 radars. A prior Breaking Defense report suggested redesign of the forward fuselage might be necessary to accommodate both radar types.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Program officials have not provided further technical details, citing security restrictions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delivery Timeline and GAO Findings<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Initial plans aimed for F-35s equipped with the full Block 4 upgrade suite to begin arriving in 2025. However, a September 2025 Government Accountability Office report indicated schedules shifted toward delivering a limited portion of upgrades first, while pushing full capability back by at least five years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revised timeline highlights ongoing integration challenges across radar, sensors, power systems, and software modernization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Program Cost and Operational Pressures<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The Joint Strike Fighter program remains the most expensive military aviation project in history. Estimated lifecycle costs through the 2070s now reach approximately $2.1 trillion, with the Joint Program Office stating that inflation accounts for nearly half of that total.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Operational and maintenance costs also continue to draw scrutiny as partner nations and U.S. services expand fleet sizes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: Lockheed Martin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Program Outlook<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Even though the Air Force confirms radar-equipped aircraft deliveries, the Block 4 modernization effort still faces technical and scheduling hurdles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Radar integration, power system upgrades, and electronic warfare improvements remain central to the program\u2019s future capability growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Join us on\u00a0Telegram Group\u00a0<\/a>for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on\u00a0Google News<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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US Air Force Fighter Pilots Salary in 2026<\/a><\/blockquote>