but it could be due to the timing of
aircraft carriers (CVNs) being modi ed to
handle the F-35. Only the USS Abraham
Lincoln (CVN 72) is currently equipped
to handle the F-35C, having completed
a comprehensive overhaul last year.
The USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), on which
VFA-147 is scheduled to deploy in
2021, is going through an extensive
yard period right now that will include
installation of systems to support the
F-35C. Not even the newest carrier, the
USS Gerald R. Ford, can handle F-35Cs
yet — modi cation is planned as a post-
construction addition.
Meanwhile, the navy has awarded
Lockheed Martin a contract to continue
development of Block 4 capabilities.
Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR)
announced a $1.8-billion contract
for continued design maturation and
development in support of Phase 2.Pre-Modernization across the US military,
according to a June 8 announcement.
‘Block 4 capabilities are delivered
through software upgrades, enabling
hardware modi cations, integration of
new weapons, and upgrades to o -board
systems,’ said VADM Mat Winter, the F-
program executive o cer in testimony
before the House Armed Services
Committee. Block 4 adds 53 speci c
items including the Small-Diameter
Bomb, the AGM-154C-1 Joint Stand-O
Weapon (JSOW), and the AIM-9X Block
II Sidewinder missile. Winter added:
‘Continuous Capability Development and
Delivery (C2D2) is the method by which
Block 4 capabilities will be delivered.
This approach is a departure from the
traditional acquisition framework via
the delivery of large capability blocks
and instead implements selected agile
processes that will result in the predictableand timely delivery of software and
hardware for rapid modernization,
enhancement, and improvement of F-
capabilities. Operational Flight Program
software updates will be developed on
a six-month cadence and will include
incremental delivery of hardware
development timelines.’
Beginning in calendar year 2022, Block
4 will require modernization of existing
development aircraft currently con gured
with TR-2 (Tech Refresh 2) legacy hardware
to TR-3, Winter said, adding: ‘TR-3 replaces
the legacy Integrated Core Processor (ICP),
Panoramic Cockpit Display (PCD), and
Aircraft Memory System (AMS) providing
the necessary processing and storage
capabilities to realize the full bene t of all
Block 4 capabilities while allowing growth
for added future capabilities.’
TR-3 will be implemented on the
production line e ective with Lot 15 F-35sAs far as is known publicly,
the next US Navy unit to
switch from the Super Hornet to the
F-35C has not been decided
An F-35C
launches from
the only US Navy
carrier currently
able to handle
the type — USS
Abraham Lincoln
(CVN 72). US
Navy/MCS1C Brian
M. Wilburhttp://www.combataircraft.net // September 2019 13
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