The F-35 Joint Program Office has completed development of the software the Air Force will use to declare initial operational capability of its Joint Strike Fighter variant. Glitches in an earlier version of the Block 3i software had caused the jet’s radar to shut? down once every four hours, but according to a May 9 release, aircraft have flown more than 100 hours with the updated software, and its stability is three times greater than the original version’s. The JPO is beginning to upgrade the F-35 fleet with the Block 3i software this week, according to the release. The Air Force is expected to declare IOC with the F-35A closer to Oct. 1, rather than the desired Aug. 1, due to difficulties with the Autonomic Logistics Information System.
The 301st Fighter Wing in Fort Worth, Texas, became the first standalone Reserve unit in the Air Force to get its own F-35s, welcoming the first fighter Nov. 5.