F-35 software delays leave UK buying time with US glide bombs

MoD says StormBreaker will plug gap until homegrown SPEAR 3 integration lands

Britain's F-35 fighter fleet is set to carry US-made glidebombs as an interim measure until delayed F-35 software updates from Lockheed Martin add support for the SPEAR 3 mini-cruise missile intended for the aircraft.

The news comes in an official response from the Ministry ofDefence (MoD) to Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC), whichpublished ascathing report last year on the MoD's management of the F-35 program.

That report noted that the stealth fighter force lacksessential capabilities, one of which is a stand-off weapon to attack groundtargets from a safe distance. The SPEAR missile is intended to fulfil thisrequirement, but although it is ready and passedtest firings in 2024, the F-35 is not currently able to operate it.

This capability should have been delivered by now through theBlock 4 software updatefrom F-35 prime contractor Lockheed Martin, but...

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