Pentagon Withholds $5 Million for Each F-35 Jet Until Software Upgrades Are Complete

Though F-35 jet deliveries resumed in July, the U.S. military is withholding $5 million in payment per jet to Lockheed Martin until technological upgrades are completed, the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) said on Thursday.

The JPO is a division of the Naval Air Systems Command that oversees the program management of the F-35 stealth jet series.

Lockheed Martin is the primary developer of the F-35 stealth combat jets.

“The F-35 JPO and Lockheed Martin have reached an agreement for acceptance and delivery of Technology Refresh 3 (TR-3) enabled aircraft with robust combat training capability,” a Lockheed Martin spokesperson told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement. “As a part of the agreement, the JPO will withhold a portion of the final aircraft delivery payments from Lockheed Martin until the TR-3 combat capability is qualified and delivered.”

In addition, Lockheed Martin and its industry partners are investing in a digital infrastructure that will support the F-35’s flights, the spokesperson said.

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