Lockheed Martin announces ‘F-35+’ with 80% of the F-47 technology for half the price (Instagram @lockheedmartin)
Lockheed Martin has announced a new version of the F-35 fighter, informally called the F-35+, which will feature 80% of the capabilities expected for the future sixth-generation F-47 fighters, but at half the cost.
The idea is to leverage technologies developed during the NGAD (Next-Generation Air Dominance) program, won by Boeing, to modernize the F-35 and keep it competitive against increasing threats and tighter budgets.
According to Lockheed Martin CEO Jim Tyklet, the upgrade will include new materials, more advanced sensors, combat systems, and countermeasures already being incorporated into the F-35 Block 4 version. The investment in NGAD, despite the loss in the competition, will be directly utilized in this new fighter configuration, elevating it to a level known as “enhanced fifth generation” (5+). The project is jointly funded by the government and Lockheed itself.
In addition to the F-35, the company is also modernizing the F-22 based on NGAD innovations. The expectation is that these improvements will extend the lifespan and relevance of both fighters over the next decades.
However, the U.S. Armed Forces’ plans foresee that the F-22 will eventually be replaced by Boeing’s F-47, the official winner of the next-generation air dominance program.
Source: Militarnyi | Photo: Instagram @lockheedmartin | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
