EXCLUSIVE: US poised to accept new F-35s without radars, sources say

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Breaking Defense

Air Warfare
EXCLUSIVE: US poised to accept new F-35s without radars, sources say

Rep. Rob Wittman told Breaking Defense that while he expected issues with the new APG-85 radar to eventually be resolved, in the interim the US military will be left with “lots of aircraft out there, but not ones that are ready to go to the fight.”

By Michael Marrow, Valerie Insinna and Diana Stancy on March 19, 2026 2:32 pm


A U.S. Marine with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 225, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South, signals to a F-35B Lightning II pilot at Jose Aponte de la Torre Airport in Ceiba, Puerto Rico, March 10, 2026. (U.S. Marine Corps photo)

WASHINGTON — Starting this fall, all new F-35 Joint Strike Fighters delivered to the American military will come without radars, an issue that could stretch into the future and restrict the jets from participating in combat operations, Breaking Defense has learned.

In the best case, a new, redesigned radar could be ready as soon as next year, meaning only a handful of jets may be impacted. But if delays for the sensor stretch on, over a hundred jets may be delivered with a ballast where the new radar is supposed to be.

Any aircraft delivered without a radar are expected to remain airworthy, but will have to be reserved for training and cannot be used in combat, two sources familiar with the situation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told Breaking Defense. ... “They can still take delivery of the jet. They can still use it as a flyable asset, [but] obviously not a combat-coded asset. So they can still do limited training with it,” one of the sources told Breaking Defense.

At issue is an upgraded radar called the APG-85. It’s a different size than the current APG-81, so planes meant to carry it have a redesigned bulkhead. The Pentagon attempted to time the radar’s entry into an ongoing production batch of jets dubbed Lot 17, but delays with the radar mean those planes will be ready before the APG-85. Due to the different bulkhead, the APG-81 radar can’t be wedged into the spot for the APG-85.

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Read more: https://breakingdefense.com/2026/03/exclusive-us-poised-to-accept-new-f-35s-without-radars-sources-say/

[Attilatheblond]

1. FUBAR

[littlemissmartypants]

8. SNAFU

[ananda]

11. SNAFUBAR

!@#$$%

[Mysterian]

2. Almost like Russian agents are in charge of the USA

Weird!

[artemisia1]

3. WTF? Maybe France will sell us some Rafales. They are 4.5 Generation fighters but, unlike the F-35, don't

break down constantly and cost zillions per flight hour. OTOH, there's no crony capitalism at play if we buy them and don't make them (where everyone gets their cut).

[AverageOldGuy]

4. Rob Wittman

Wittman "represents" Virginia's First Congressional District -- VA-01. He was first elected in 2007. He has never introduced or sponsored a meaningful piece of legislation. VA-01 is a red district that Wittman consistently wins 65-35. Much of the district is small, farming counties where Wittman and Trump pull 70% of the vote. HOWEVER -- after 2021 redistrciting, the district now includes parts of Richmond suburbs and has been trending more and more blue. Democratic Governor Abigal Spanberger carried the district by a small margin in 2025. Wittman has been listed as one of the most endangered House Republicans. If Virginia's redistricting is approved in the April 21 election, VA-01 will be merged with deep blue parts of VA-07 where Wittman will be toast. Even if VA-01 is unchanged, Wittman is in the fight of his career.

Wittman is MAGAt all the way . . . quiet, back-bencher but a MAGAt nonetheless.

[sakabatou]

5. *facepalm*

[charliea]

10. OMG!

I started out in the 70's as an aeronautical engineer at McDonald Douglas. One of the legion of engineers who worked on the F-18 and F-15. To accept a product costing around 80-100 million apiece that can't be used for it's intended purpose sounds like an f-up of monumental proportions. At the same time Lockheed Martin is proudly stating that they delivered 191 planes in 2025, not mentioning they are not actually combat ready. So we now have around 20 billion dollars worth of flight trainers. That the government would consider that acceptable is just another indicator of why we should audit the defense department because I bet Lockheed Martin wont be penalized at all if/when they get that crucial part created. (Cost plus!)

[LearnedHand]

6. Next shipment: F-35s without wings

I swear to the gods we live in a madhouse in hell.

[Prairie Gates]

7. This is gonna be a fucking catastrophe

Sicilian Expedition level event

[William Seger]

9. Why can't we refuse to accept (or pay for) them before they're ready to do the specified job?

[LudwigPastorius]

12. I'm actually surprised this doesn't happen a lot more.

...due to the genius-level Congressional parting out of contracts to different companies in different voting districts, so everybody "gets a taste" of that sweet, sweet taxpayer money.

[Trueblue Texan]

13. I'm sorry, but....

….can you say “stupid, incompetent motherfuckers”?

[BaronChocula]

14. Radar is so WOKE!

Real men (and only men) fly on their gut and a shot of Jaeger. Back during the Civil War you would have been shot by your CO if you asked for radar in your plane. We need to restore masculinity back to our armed services like in the old days when men were men and knew going in that you go to war with the military you have and not some DEI, socialist, law-abiding, idea where we should be shooting candy bullets and dropping chocolate bombs. Damn right those planes have no radar and they're the best damn planes in service.
- Pete Hegseth

[NowsTheTime]

15. Give them 200 billion fast! That should solve the problem!

[IronLionZion]

16. Iran loves this plan

[Vinca]

17. Trump says he likes surprises so this must be the new policy. Surprise the pilot!

People will probably die, but old bone spurs will remain ensconced in his gold shrine making our lives miserable.