Military
F-35s Appear to Be Reaching the U.S. Air Force Without Radars Amid Block 4 Upgrade Delays
Mounting evidence suggests the U.S. military has been accepting new F-35A Lightning II fighters without their next-generation AN/APG-85 radars since mid-2025, a consequence of persistent delays in the jet's troubled Block 4 modernization program.
Key Takeaways
- F-35As reportedly delivered without radars since June 2025 due to APG-85 delays
- New radar's bulkhead design is incompatible with the older APG-81 unit
- Pentagon appears to prioritize production continuity over delivered combat capability
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