According to an official statement from the Air Force, a developmental test team from the 461st Flight Test Squadron carried out the maiden flight of the TR-3 configuration of the F-35 at the Edwards Air Force Base. The flight which lasted for 50 minutes, soared to a height of 35,000 feet and reached a speed close to the sound barrier, over the Mojave Desert. This marks the beginning of an expansive flight test campaign.
The TR-3 upgrade to the F-35 provides the necessary computational power to introduce a host of new features, known as Block 4 capabilities, including advanced sensor suites, extended-range precision weapons, enhanced electronic warfare capabilities, improved data fusion, and increased interoperability with other platforms. These new capabilities will enhance the warfighter's ability to detect, track, engage and survive against cutting-edge aerial, ground, and cyber threats. The TR-3 configuration also significantly increases the core processing power and memory capacity of the F-35, enabling it to run more sophisticated software and offer advanced warfighting capabilities.
The TR-3 program has successfully navigated the technical hurdles posed by both hardware and software, and is on schedule to deliver its new capabilities to the U.S. military and its allies starting in 2023. The government and industry teams are working together to find innovative solutions to meet the critical needs in countering future threats. The experience gained from the TR-3 program will be utilized in the entire Block 4 modernization program.
TR-3 First Flight
— F-35 Lightning II (@thef35) January 10, 2023
The next generation of F-35 technology is here. TR-3 will provide game-changing capabilities to keep the world’s most advanced aircraft ahead of ready.
"The F-35 Integrated Test Force at Edwards AFB is proud to have executed yet another first-flight within the F-35 program,” said Air Force Lt. Col. Christopher Campbell, commander of the 461st Flight Test Squadron and director of the F-35 Integrated Test Force. “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."
The F-35 is a fifth-generation, multi-role weapon system renowned for its ability to collect, process, and disseminate vast amounts of data, acting as a force multiplier by augmenting the capabilities of other assets in combat. Boasting stealth technology, state-of-the-art sensors, an extensive weapons capacity, and an impressive range, the F-35 is considered the most advanced, survivable, and interoperable fighter aircraft ever created. Since being deployed in July 2015, the F-35 has been the backbone of the U.S. fighter fleet, and 16 other nations will continue to rely on it for decades to come.
Source: US Air Force
