U.S. Marines Accept Six F-35Bs Without Radars Due to AN/APG-85 Delays
The U.S. Marine Corps has accepted six F-35B jets with ballast instead of the new AN/APG-85 radar, due to development delays by Northrop Grumman. The Air Force and Navy will also receive radar-less jets later in 2025. These aircraft can only perform basic flight training, not combat missions. The radar is part of the delayed Block 4 upgrade, with first production not expected until 2028. The Pentagon accepted this risk to avoid retrofitting older jets, amid scrutiny over low mission-capable rates.
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U.S. Marines Flying F-35Bs Without Radar Due to APG-85 Delays
The U.S. Marine Corps is operating six F-35B stealth fighters with metal ballast bolted in place of their AN/APG-85 radar, as confirmed by F-35 program chief Marine Lt. Gen. Gregory Masiello during a June 23 Senate hearing. The jets, part of Lot 17, were delivered without the new radar because Northrop Grumman's APG-85 is years behind schedule and cannot be retrofitted with the older APG-81 due to incompatible mounting. The Marines opted to accept the aircraft to avoid halting deliveries, using them only for basic flight training rather than combat. No Air Force or Navy jets have been delivered this way yet, but both services are expected to accept some later in 2026. The first production APG-85 radars are not anticipated before 2028 at a unit cost of roughly $9 million. The revelation comes amid broader F-35 program challenges, including a record-low full mission capable rate (25% in FY2025) and a stalled Block 4 modernization effort.
19FortyFiveU.S. Marines Fly F-35 Stealth Fighters With No Radar Due To Radar Delay
The U.S. Marine Corps is operating six F-35B stealth fighters with metal ballast bolted in place of their radar systems because the new AN/APG-85 radar, built by Northrop Grumman, is years behind schedule. This was confirmed by Marine Lt. Gen. Gregory Masiello, head of the F-35 Joint Program Office, during a June 23 Senate hearing. The aircraft, built under Lot 17, have a unique forward bulkhead incompatible with the older APG-81 radar. The jets are restricted to basic flight training and are not considered fully mission capable. The revelation underscores deeper troubles for the F-35 program, including a record-low full mission capable rate of 25%, a stalled Block 4 modernization, and a total program cost exceeding $2 trillion. First production APG-85 radars are not expected before 2028, at a unit cost of roughly $9 million. No Air Force or Navy jets have been delivered this way yet, but they are expected to accept some later this year.
19FortyFiveU.S. Marines Flying F-35 Stealth Fighters Without Radar Due to APG-85 Delays
The U.S. Marine Corps is operating six F-35B stealth fighters with metal ballast bolted in place of their radar systems, the head of the F-35 Joint Program Office confirmed to the Senate on June 23, 2026. Marine Lt. Gen. Gregory Masiello stated the jets, part of Lot 17, were delivered without the new AN/APG-85 radar because Northrop Grumman's production is years behind schedule. The airframes have a unique forward bulkhead designed for the APG-85, making the older APG-81 incompatible as a stopgap. The radarless jets are limited to basic flight training and cannot be counted as fully mission capable. The disclosure comes amid broader F-35 program troubles, including a stalled Block 4 upgrade and a record-low full mission capable rate of 25%, down from 38% in 2020. First production APG-85 radars are not expected before 2028, at a unit cost of roughly $9 million.
19FortyFiveF-35s Being Delivered Without Radars Due to AN/APG-85 Delays
The U.S. Marine Corps has accepted six F-35B fighters without their AN/APG-85 radars, confirmed by Lt. Gen. Gregory Masiello of the F-35 Joint Program Office during a Senate hearing. The radar is part of the delayed Block 4 upgrade package, with the first production lot not expected until 2028. The disclosure came amid questioning by Senator Mark Kelly about conflicting readiness figures—the GAO reports a 25% full mission capable rate, while the JPO claims 56%. The Marine Corps and JPO state the concurrent development and production were deliberate risks to avoid retrofitting older Block 3 aircraft. The radarless jets are intended to accept Block 4 capabilities later, but the delays highlight ongoing cost and schedule woes in the F-35 program.
TWZF-35s Now Being Delivered Without Radars Due to AN/APG-85 Delays
The U.S. military has confirmed that at least six F-35B Joint Strike Fighters have been accepted by the Marine Corps without radars, due to delays in the development and production of the new AN/APG-85 radar. The first production lot of the radar is not expected until 2028. The disclosure came during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, where Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Gregory Masiello, head of the F-35 Joint Program Office, acknowledged the radarless deliveries. The radar shortfall is tied to the broader Block 4 modernization program, which has been plagued by cost growth and delays. Concurrently, a Government Accountability Office report revealed that the average Full Mission Capable (FMC) rate across all F-35 variants fell from 38% in FY2020 to 25% in FY2025, though the JPO disputes this methodology and claims a 56% rate. The Pentagon deliberately accepted the risk of producing aircraft ahead of Block 4 capabilities to avoid extensive retrofitting of older Block 3 jets.
TWZF-35s Being Delivered Without Radars Due to AN/APG-85 Development Delays
The U.S. military has confirmed that at least six F-35B Joint Strike Fighters have been delivered to the U.S. Marine Corps without radars, due to delays in the AN/APG-85 radar program. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Gregory Masiello, head of the F-35 Joint Program Office, disclosed this during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing. The AN/APG-85 is a key component of the Block 4 upgrade, which has faced cost growth and delays. The first production lot of the radar is not expected until 2028. The acceptance of radarless jets was a deliberate decision to avoid retrofitting older Block 3 aircraft, according to the Marine Corps. The hearing also highlighted declining Full Mission Capable rates across F-35 variants, as reported by the Government Accountability Office, with the JPO disputing the methodology.
TWZU.S. Marines Accept Six F-35Bs Without Radars; Air Force and Navy to Follow
The U.S. Marine Corps has accepted six F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing fighters that lack installed radars, using only ballast in the nose, due to delays in developing the new AN/APG-85 AESA radar by Northrop Grumman. The radar is government-furnished equipment, so Lockheed Martin delivered the aircraft without it. The F-35 Joint Program Office confirmed that no Air Force or Navy jets have been delivered without radars yet, but both services will have to accept such jets later in 2025. The bulkhead design for the new radar was changed starting with Lot 17 production. Deliveries of the AN/APG-85 radar may slip into 2027. Aircraft without radars can perform basic flight training but cannot engage in combat or combat training. The Pentagon acknowledged the risk of concurrent development and production. The news adds to scrutiny of the F-35 program, which a recent GAO report found has only about 25% of jets fully mission capable. Cooling system upgrades for the new radar are not expected until after 2031, requiring a next-generation engine from Pratt & Whitney.
Air & Space Forces MagazineMarines Have 6 F-35s Without Radars; USAF Will Get Some Too
The U.S. Marine Corps has accepted six F-35B jets with ballast instead of the new AN/APG-85 radar, due to design changes and a delay from radar-maker Northrop Grumman. The F-35 Joint Program Office confirmed that the Air Force and Navy will also receive radar-less jets later in 2025. The radars are government-furnished equipment, so prime contractor Lockheed Martin is not at fault. Radar-less aircraft can be used for basic flight training but not combat missions. The delay is part of broader Block 4 upgrade issues, including cooling system shortfalls. The jets have a unique bulkhead for the new radar but lack the radar itself. The program faces scrutiny as a GAO report found only about 25% of F-35s were fully mission capable in 2025, though the JPO cites a higher rate of 56%. Cooling upgrades to support the new radar are not expected until after 2031.
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