Lockheed Clears 72-Jet Backlog of F-35s Parked Over Late Software Improvements

Lockheed Martin Corp. has delivered all F-35 jets parked at its Forth Worth, Texas plant to the US government as of May 1 after several months of delay due to late software improvements, according to the Pentagon’s program office.

The Defense Department was withholding as much as $5 million in final payment per aircraft until the company demonstrates that the software and hardware upgrade — known as Technology Refresh 3, or TR-3 — can support intense training missions and eventual full combat operations.