{"id":84446,"date":"2025-05-29T21:00:58","date_gmt":"2025-05-29T21:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2025\/05\/29\/lockheed-eyes-better-stealth-unmanned-option-for-f-35\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T01:24:08","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T01:24:08","slug":"lockheed-eyes-better-stealth-unmanned-option-for-f-35","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/your-air-force\/2025\/05\/29\/lockheed-eyes-better-stealth-unmanned-option-for-f-35\/","title":{"rendered":"Lockheed eyes better stealth, unmanned option for F-35"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Advanced stealth capabilities, new weapons and possibly even an unmanned piloting option could be in the works for Lockheed Martin\u2019s F-35 as the company seeks to <a href=\"https:\/\/Advanced stealth capabilities, new weapons, and possibly even an unmanned piloting option could be in the works for Lockheed Martin\u2019s F-35 as the company seeks to boost its Joint Strike Fighter with sixth-generation technology. In a Wednesday discussion at the Bernstein Strategic Decisions Conference, Lockheed chief executive Jim Taiclet expressed confidence that the company could have a \u201cmeaningful increase\u201d of capabilities for the F-35 ready in two or three years. Lockheed originally developed these technologies as part of its pitch to the Air Force for a Next-Generation Air Dominance fighter. But the Air Force ended up going with Boeing\u2019s proposal, and President Donald Trump in March announced NGAD would be called the F-47. Lockheed hopes to salvage its NGAD loss by making the F-35 more capable and attractive. Taiclet has claimed porting its NGAD technology into an F-35 will allow the company can deliver 80% of the capability of an NGAD fighter at half the cost. That could include upgrading the stealth coatings on the F-35 to make them more able to hide from infrared and radar signals, as well as tweaking the fighter\u2019s outer body shape \u2013 particularly its engine inlets and outlets \u2013 to make it stealthier, Taiclet said. A fifth generation-plus F-35 could also have better electronic warfare capabilities, networking, and autonomy, which could be used to make the jet \u201cpilot-optional,\u201d Taiclet said. Some weapons designed for a sixth-generation aircraft could also be folded into the F-35\u2019s arsenal, he said. Some of these capabilities could be ready for a first flight and integration into the F-35 in two or three years, Taiclet said, but he cautioned that the technology development has to be rolled out in stages. \u201cYou cannot introduce too much new equipment or too much new software at once, necessarily, without interrupting the production flow,\u201d Taiclet said. Lockheed Martin is also looking for ways the F-35 can better interface with other aircraft \u2013 including sixth-generation planes \u2013 drones such as collaborative combat aircraft, and other technologies as part of the Air Force\u2019s \u201cfamily of systems\u201d concept. \u201cThis is the way to look at the air superiority program of the future,\u201d Taiclet said. \u201cIt\u2019s not just plane-to-plane, what\u2019s faster, what turns tighter, what\u2019s got the longest duration of flight, but how it interacts and can interact with a wider ecosystem to create air superiority.\u201d Taiclet also provided an update on the F-35\u2019s Technology Refresh 3 upgrades and the effort to get the newest Joint Strike Fighters ready to fly in combat. The upgrades, also known as TR3, include an improved core processor for the F-35, better memory, and a more sophisticated display for the pilots. The development of that hardware is done, Taiclet said, and is being produced at scale by L3Harris. He said the TR3 software integration to tie the new pieces of equipment into the jet is also done. F-35s are now moving through production lines, primarily at Lockheed\u2019s Fort Worth, Texas, facility, and having TR3 hardware and software installed, he said. Those new F-35s are also receiving a new distributed aperture system, which is six antennas positioned around the jet to boost its sensing capability. The distributed aperture system is the first piece of hardware needed for a more significant upgrade known as Block 4. However, integrating that new sensor set and its own software with TR3 has presented a new challenge, and is now \u201ca little bit behind schedule,\u201d Taiclet said. \u201cOnce that catches up, we think by the end of this year, then all those aircraft that have been delivered will be combat capable, and allowable to be at the front line base for the services and for our allies,\u201d Taiclet said. \" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"\" title=\"https:\/\/Advanced stealth capabilities, new weapons, and possibly even an unmanned piloting option could be in the works for Lockheed Martin\u2019s F-35 as the company seeks to boost its Joint Strike Fighter with sixth-generation technology. In a Wednesday discussion at the Bernstein Strategic Decisions Conference, Lockheed chief executive Jim Taiclet expressed confidence that the company could have a \u201cmeaningful increase\u201d of capabilities for the F-35 ready in two or three years. Lockheed originally developed these technologies as part of its pitch to the Air Force for a Next-Generation Air Dominance fighter. But the Air Force ended up going with Boeing\u2019s proposal, and President Donald Trump in March announced NGAD would be called the F-47. Lockheed hopes to salvage its NGAD loss by making the F-35 more capable and attractive. Taiclet has claimed porting its NGAD technology into an F-35 will allow the company can deliver 80% of the capability of an NGAD fighter at half the cost. That could include upgrading the stealth coatings on the F-35 to make them more able to hide from infrared and radar signals, as well as tweaking the fighter\u2019s outer body shape \u2013 particularly its engine inlets and outlets \u2013 to make it stealthier, Taiclet said. A fifth generation-plus F-35 could also have better electronic warfare capabilities, networking, and autonomy, which could be used to make the jet \u201cpilot-optional,\u201d Taiclet said. Some weapons designed for a sixth-generation aircraft could also be folded into the F-35\u2019s arsenal, he said. Some of these capabilities could be ready for a first flight and integration into the F-35 in two or three years, Taiclet said, but he cautioned that the technology development has to be rolled out in stages. \u201cYou cannot introduce too much new equipment or too much new software at once, necessarily, without interrupting the production flow,\u201d Taiclet said. Lockheed Martin is also looking for ways the F-35 can better interface with other aircraft \u2013 including sixth-generation planes \u2013 drones such as collaborative combat aircraft, and other technologies as part of the Air Force\u2019s \u201cfamily of systems\u201d concept. \u201cThis is the way to look at the air superiority program of the future,\u201d Taiclet said. \u201cIt\u2019s not just plane-to-plane, what\u2019s faster, what turns tighter, what\u2019s got the longest duration of flight, but how it interacts and can interact with a wider ecosystem to create air superiority.\u201d Taiclet also provided an update on the F-35\u2019s Technology Refresh 3 upgrades and the effort to get the newest Joint Strike Fighters ready to fly in combat. The upgrades, also known as TR3, include an improved core processor for the F-35, better memory, and a more sophisticated display for the pilots. The development of that hardware is done, Taiclet said, and is being produced at scale by L3Harris. He said the TR3 software integration to tie the new pieces of equipment into the jet is also done. F-35s are now moving through production lines, primarily at Lockheed\u2019s Fort Worth, Texas, facility, and having TR3 hardware and software installed, he said. Those new F-35s are also receiving a new distributed aperture system, which is six antennas positioned around the jet to boost its sensing capability. The distributed aperture system is the first piece of hardware needed for a more significant upgrade known as Block 4. However, integrating that new sensor set and its own software with TR3 has presented a new challenge, and is now \u201ca little bit behind schedule,\u201d Taiclet said. \u201cOnce that catches up, we think by the end of this year, then all those aircraft that have been delivered will be combat capable, and allowable to be at the front line base for the services and for our allies,\u201d Taiclet said. \">boost the jet with sixth-generation technology<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a webcast of a Wednesday discussion at the Bernstein Strategic Decisions Conference in New York, Lockheed CEO Jim Taiclet expressed confidence the company could have a \u201cmeaningful increase\u201d of capabilities for the F-35 ready in two or three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lockheed originally developed these technologies as part of its pitch to the Air Force for a Next-Generation Air Dominance, or NGAD, fighter. But the Air Force ended up going with Boeing\u2019s proposal, and President Donald Trump in March <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/air\/2025\/03\/21\/boeing-wins-contract-for-ngad-fighter-jet-dubbed-f-47\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"\" title=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/air\/2025\/03\/21\/boeing-wins-contract-for-ngad-fighter-jet-dubbed-f-47\/\">announced NGAD would be called the F-47<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lockheed hopes to salvage its NGAD loss by making the F-35 more capable and attractive.<b> <\/b>Taiclet has claimed porting its NGAD technology into a \u201csupercharged\u201d F-35 will allow the company to deliver 80% of the capability of an NGAD fighter at half the cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In an April earnings call with investors, Taiclet said Lockheed would \u201ctake the [F-35\u2019s] chassis and turn it into a Ferrari.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That could include upgrading the F-35\u2019s stealth coatings to help it evade infrared and radar signals and tweaking the fighter\u2019s outer body shape, particularly its engine inlets and outlets, to make it stealthier, Taiclet said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A fifth-generation-plus F-35 could also have better electronic warfare capabilities, networking and autonomy, which could be used to make the jet \u201cpilot-optional,\u201d Taiclet said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some weapons designed for a sixth-generation aircraft could also be folded into the F-35\u2019s arsenal, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some of these capabilities could be ready for a first flight and integration into the F-35 in two or three years, Taiclet said, but he cautioned the technology development has to be rolled out in stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou cannot introduce too much new equipment or too much new software at once, necessarily, without interrupting the production flow,\u201d Taiclet said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lockheed Martin is also looking for ways the F-35 can better interface with other aircraft, including sixth-generation planes, drones such as collaborative combat aircraft and other technologies as part of the Air Force\u2019s \u201cfamily of systems\u201d concept. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis is the way to look at the air superiority program of the future,\u201d Taiclet said. \u201cIt\u2019s not just plane-to-plane, what\u2019s faster, what turns tighter, what\u2019s got the longest duration of flight, but how it interacts and can interact with a wider ecosystem to create air superiority.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Taiclet also provided an update on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/air\/2024\/08\/30\/new-f-35s-can-fly-combat-training-as-dod-holds-millions-from-lockheed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"\" title=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/air\/2024\/08\/30\/new-f-35s-can-fly-combat-training-as-dod-holds-millions-from-lockheed\/\">F-35\u2019s Technology Refresh 3 upgrades<\/a> and the effort to get the newest Joint Strike Fighters ready to fly in combat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The upgrades, also known as TR3, include an improved core processor for the F-35, better memory and a more sophisticated display for pilots. The development of that hardware is done, Taiclet said, and it\u2019s being produced at scale by L3Harris. He said the TR3 software integration to tie the new pieces of equipment into the jet is also done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">F-35s are now moving through production lines, primarily at Lockheed\u2019s Fort Worth, Texas, facility, and are having TR3 hardware and software installed, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Those new F-35s are also receiving a new distributed aperture system, which is six antennas positioned around the jet to boost its sensing capability. The distributed aperture system is the first piece of hardware needed for a more significant upgrade known as Block 4.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, integrating that new sensor set and its own software with TR3 has presented a new challenge, and is now \u201ca little bit behind schedule,\u201d Taiclet said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOnce that catches up, we think by the end of this year, then all those aircraft that have been delivered will be combat capable, and allowable to be at the front-line base for the services and for our allies,\u201d Taiclet said. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After losing the Air Force&#8217;s next-generation fighter contract to Boeing, Lockheed Martin hopes to fold sixth-generation tech into the F-35.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":119587,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":67,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[101,16,26,67],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3320],"class_list":["post-84446","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-news","category-newsletters","category-your-air-force"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"435IN4YBQJCE5DW62LXCNNEH3Y","arc_canonical_url":"\/air\/2025\/05\/29\/lockheed-eyes-better-stealth-unmanned-option-for-f-35\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Lockheed eyes better stealth, unmanned option for F-35 - Air Force TImes<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"After losing the Air Force&#039;s next-generation fighter contract to Boeing, Lockheed Martin hopes to fold sixth-generation tech into the F-35.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/air\/2025\/05\/29\/lockheed-eyes-better-stealth-unmanned-option-for-f-35\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Lockheed eyes better stealth, unmanned option for F-35\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"After losing the Air Force&#039;s next-generation fighter contract to Boeing, Lockheed Martin hopes to fold sixth-generation tech into the F-35.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/your-air-force\/2025\/05\/29\/lockheed-eyes-better-stealth-unmanned-option-for-f-35\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Air Force TImes\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-05-29T21:00:58+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-08T01:24:08+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Stephen Losey\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Stephen Losey\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\n\t    \"@context\": 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