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 Pentagon has concluded a new agreement to buy laser-guidance kits that turn rockets into drone-killing weapons. BAE Systems and the Defense Department announced a framework deal of up to seven years for 25,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System guidance kits annually for the U.S. military.