Pro US Marine Corps gets six ‘blind’ F-35B stealth fighters loaded with lead ballast instead of advanced radars — new APG-38 radar won’t be available till 2028 and can’t even be used at full capacity till 2031 News By Efosa Udinmwen Published 2 July 2026 US Marine Corps now operates stealth fighters that cannot actually see anything When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works . (Image credit: Air Power on X) Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Six new F-35Bs entered service carrying ballast inside their noses instead of radar The APG-85 delay created stealth fighters without their primary sensor Lot 17 redesign decisions eliminated compatibility with older radar hardware The United States Marine Corps has accepted delivery of six newly built F-35B stealth fighters carrying ballast weights where a radar should be installed. The aircraft left production lines without the AN/APG-85 radar that future F-35 variants are expected to rely upon for combat operations. Instead of delaying delivery, officials accepted aircraft configured with dead weight occupying the nose section reserved for the missing equipment. Latest Videos From Watch full video here: A new radar arrives before the aircraft can actually use it The unusual situation emerged because Lot 17 aircraft were redesigned around the forthcoming AN/APG-85 radar architecture and mounting structure. Those modifications prevent installation of the older AN/APG-81 radar, leaving no interim option while the replacement remains unavailable. You may like Scathing new GAO report finds just 25% of $1.6 trillion F-35 program meets fully mission capable rate Chinese firm selling stealth ‘core technology by the kilogram’ to make drones almost invisible to radars — spray-on coating is almost affordable by F-117 standards, slashes reflected radar power by 50% Chinese researchers claim software identifies aerodynamic flaws in US B-21 Raider The radar is to be supplied by Northrop Grumman rather than prime contractor Lockheed Martin, further complicating delivery schedules. Marine Corps Lieutenant General Gregory Masiello informed lawmakers on June 23 2026 that only six Marine aircraft currently lack installed radars. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Acceptance testing for those aircraft began in February 2026 after successfully completing production earlier in the year. Although the Air Force and Navy have not yet received comparable aircraft, similar deliveries are reportedly expected later this year. Without radars, the aircraft can support basic flight familiarisation and pilot instruction activities while remaining unsuitable for combat operations. What to read next US F15 pilot claimed to have seen a minefield of Iranian drones moving like ‘jellyfish’ US Space Force cancels $6.27 billion Next Generation GPS project due to system issues Starlink outage left 24 unmanned US Navy vessels stranded in the water The Joint Program Office defended the decision, stating the Pentagon “deliberately undertook a highly concurrent development and production program for advanced capabilities.” “This decision was made with full understanding of the risk of having production aircraft ready ahead of the capabilities.” Delay exposes larger questions around F-35 readiness The missing radar arrives amid wider concerns surrounding operational readiness across the broader F-35 fleet during fiscal year 2025. According to a r
Sumber: TechRadar