US Delivers Radar-Less F-35s

The United States has started delivering newly built F-35 fifth-generation fighter jets without radar systems, as delays in the rollout of the advanced AN/APG-85 radar have disrupted production timelines and forced interim solutions within the program.

Radar Upgrade Delays Disrupt Deliveries

Under original plans, F-35 aircraft produced from 2025 onward were expected to be equipped with the state-of-the-art AN/APG-85 radar. However, persistent technical delays and supply chain issues have postponed the radar’s availability from Lot 17 to at least Lot 20.

According to industry reporting, the legacy AN/APG-81 radar—still used on export aircraft—requires a fundamentally different mounting system and cannot be easily installed on airframes prepared for the newer radar. As a result, US Air Force jets delivered since June 2025 have arrived without any radar installed.

Ballast Used as Temporary Solution

To compensate for the missing radar and maintain aircraft balance, additional ballast has been placed in the nose section of the F-35s. Despite the absence of a radar, officials maintain that the aircraft can still fly and perform limited operational roles.

These radar-less jets are intended to operate alongside fully equipped F-35s, relying on the platform’s advanced data-sharing and network-centric capabilities to receive targeting and situational awareness information from other aircraft.

Peacetime Fix, Wartime Risk

Defense analysts note that while such operations are theoretically feasible given the F-35’s extensive information-sharing infrastructure, the approach is widely seen as a peacetime workaround. In a high-intensity conflict, reliance on external sensors could significantly degrade survivability and combat effectiveness.

The situation underscores broader challenges facing the F-35 program, including persistent concerns over low mission-capable rates, with reports indicating that only around half of the fleet is fully operational at any given time.

Long-Term Fix Still Uncertain

In an effort to prevent similar issues in the future, Lockheed Martin has proposed developing a redesigned fuselage capable of accommodating both the AN/APG-81 and AN/APG-85 radars. While such a solution could improve flexibility, it would require extensive re-certification and additional production time.

Despite ongoing technical and readiness challenges, the F-35 remains the most widely deployed fifth-generation fighter aircraft in the world and continues to be selected by a growing number of countries.