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The Southeast Asian bloc ASEAN met in Laos on Wednesday (24 July) as it seeks to advance a stalled bid to resolve a crisis in Myanmar and cool tensions in the South China Sea, days ahead of a gathering of top diplomats from the world's biggest powers.

While EU countries are generally making progress on rule of law, Slovakia, Hungary face criticism when the European Commission presented its fifth annual report on Wednesday (July 24).

The war in Ukraine and the US presidential election dominated a NATO summit in Washington this month but, away from the public stage, the alliance's military planners have been focused on assessing the enormous cost of fixing Europe's creaking defences.

The Paris Olympic Games will be welcoming thousands of athletes from all over the world, as well as police officers from some forty countries, who will be supporting the French police forces to provide security for the world's biggest sporting event. Focus on the European forces.

As European Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen prepares to spend the summer interviewing potential candidates for her new team, she may face challenges on three key fronts.

Portugal's government wants to privatise flag carrier TAP sooner rather than later to take advantage of market interest in the airline and is moving forward with preparatory work, Infrastructure Minister Miguel Pinto Luz said on Wednesday (24 July).

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will visit China from 26-31 July on her first trip there since taking office, aiming to improve trade with China, a person involved in the planning told Reuters.

The United States on Wednesday (24 July) criticized an Israeli bill that would declare the UN agency for Palestinian refugees a terrorist organization, saying that such efforts are "incredibly unhelpful."

European Union member states discussed options for extending the renewal period of sanctions on Russian central bank assets to secure a major Group of Seven loan to Ukraine, an EU draft document showed and diplomats said on Wednesday (24 July).

The rise of a young generation of far-right voters - conservative, anti-immigration, and fiercely nationalist - is a phenomenon shaping new electoral strategies all over Europe.

Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Wednesday (24 July) urged world leaders to work together and find solutions to hunger as he launched an initiative to tackle "the most degrading of human deprivations."

With energy and climate an increasingly important component of EU-US relations, officials in Europe are keen to understand what US Vice-President Kamala Harris is thinking on these topics, and what a Harris presidency would mean for the transatlantic relations.

Americas Canada has awarded GM Defense a contract to deliver 90 Light Tactical Vehicles (LTVs) for the army. The $25.9 million deal covers 54 personnel and 36 cargo variants of the LTV. It will also supply training, logistics support, technical manuals, and spare parts sourced from other local companies. Additionally, this agreement offers an option for up to 18 more LTVs depending on the army’s requirements in the future. The first five systems are expected to arrive in Canada this month. The US Air Force has conducted the final flight of the T-1 Jayhawk medium-range trainer jet, marking the aircraft’s retirement after three decades. The aircraft flew from Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph in Texas to Davis-Monthan AFB in Arizona for the ceremony. Since its induction in the early 1990s, the Jayhawk has served as a pilot and aircrew training capability at multiple US military sites and covered thousands of preparations for platforms such as the C-17 Globemaster III, KC-135 Stratotanker, and the C-130 Hercules. Middle East & Africa Israel Aerospace Industries announced a new air-to-surface cruise missile dubbed Wind Demon, what the company says is a lightweight, reasonably priced munition. The weapon is “a new generation of air-to-surface cruise missile, combining new […]

How the culture war subsumed efforts to curb global warming.

Instead of abandoning Kyiv, Washington should give it the tools to win.

Ukraine's top diplomat said on Wednesday (24 July), after a day of "very deep and concentrated" talks in China, that Kyiv was prepared for talks on the conflict with Russia provided Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity were fully respected.

Why tourists who flock to see the country's beautiful landscapes will have to get a visa from next year.

Summary and Key Points: Lockheed Martin has resumed deliveries of the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter after overcoming issues with the TR-3 software updates. The F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) announced a phased delivery approach, starting with aircraft having initial training capabilities and progressing to robust combat training capabilities by the end of August.

The TR-3 update is crucial for the forthcoming Block 4 upgrade, enhancing the aircraft’s capabilities and allowing it to carry additional weapon systems.

Over 100 aircraft awaiting updates in storage hangars will now be delivered. This resumption marks significant progress for the F-35 program.

Lockheed Martin Resumes F-35 Deliveries After Overcoming TR-3 Software Issues

After many months of frustration and delays, Lockheed Martin has resumed deliveries of the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter.

The F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) announced that longtime issues with the TR-3 software updates have been overcome and that the stealth aircraft is once more getting delivered.

F-35 Lightning II Deliveries Resume

“We have initiated a phased approach to the delivery of TR-3 F-35 aircraft,” Lieutenant General Mike Schmidt, the JPO’s program executive officer, said in a press release.

“The first phase will deliver jets with an initial training capability in July and August. By the end of August, we will be delivering jets with a robust combat training capability, as we continue towards the delivery of full TR-3 combat capabilities in 2025. Our focus has been on providing our customers with aircraft that are stable, capable, and maintainable, and this phased approach does that,” Schmidt added.

This is a compromise among the JPO, Lockheed Martin, and the military customers. The aircraft that are going to be delivered will require further software updates to be combat-ready. But in order to get the process moving, the different parties reached a compromise to start delivering aircraft with a limited version of the TR-3 update that can be updated in the future.

The TR-3 software update is quite important because it will enhance the aircraft’s capabilities and make it more competitive in a near-peer operational environment. Moreover, the update is necessary for the upcoming Block 4 upgrade to work; the Block 4 upgrade will allow the F-35 Lightning II to carry additional weapon systems and further increase its advanced capabilities.

“TR-3 and Block 4 represent a critical evolution in capability and their full development remains a top priority for us,” said Bridget Lauderdale, vice president and general manager of the F-35 Program at Lockheed Martin.

“These and further software updates over the life of the program will ensure the F-35 continues to be an effective deterrent and the cornerstone of joint all-domain operations now and decades into the future,” she added.

Here at The National Interest, we have closely followed the saga around the TR-3 software update and the operational and national security consequences of delaying deliveries of America’s most advanced fighter. For several months, Lockheed Martin has been producing F-35 stealth fighter jets that, instead of getting delivered to the U.S. military or several other foreign customers, were forced to sit in storage hangars, waiting for the key TR-3 software update. Although the exact number of F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jets stored in hangars remains classified, it is estimated that over 100 aircraft will need to be updated before they join the operational fleet.

“I am extremely proud of all the hard work the government and industry team have put into the delivery of TR-3 configured F-35s. This is an important first step, and although much work remains, I am confident our team will work tirelessly to achieve the desired and necessary results that our warfighters, allies and customers require.” Schmidt said.

About the Author 

Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from Johns Hopkins University and an MA from Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.

All images are Creative Commons. 

Summary and Key Points: The F-4 Phantom II, an iconic third-generation American warplane, served from 1961 to 1996 and participated in conflicts like the Vietnam War and Desert Storm. Developed by McDonnell Aircraft, this tandem, two-seat, twin-engine jet was used by the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and eleven other nations, including Iran.

-Powered by two General Electric engines, it could reach speeds of 1,485 mph and carry a variety of missiles and a Gatling cannon.

-Despite its impressive capabilities and service record, it was retired as newer fourth and fifth-generation aircraft, like the F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon, became operational.

The F-4 Phantom II Had the Perfect Lifespan

The F-4 Phantom II is one of America’s most iconic warplanes. After entering service in 1961 and retiring in 1996, this bird is the stuff of legends. A unique design, the F-4 Phantom II was the world’s premier third-generation warplane. It served in multiple conflicts, from the Vietnam War to Desert Storm. Even with its incredible service record, though, the warbird was retired at the appropriate time. 

The F-4 Phantom II was one of the best, but by that time, the plane was a third-generation bird living in a fourth-generation warplane world. In fact, by the time the last U.S. Phantom was retired, the fifth generation had already arrived. 

The F-4 In All Its Glory

A tandem, two-seat, twin-engine, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor and fighter-bomber, this warbird was originally developed by McDonnell Aircraft for the U.S. Navy. After it entered service with the Navy, the Marine Corps also adopted this plane, and so did the Air Force. Eleven other nations used these birds as well. 

As an interesting aside, the Islamic Republic of Iran’s military still uses the F-4s they inherited from the government of the deposed Shāh.

The F-4 Phantom II has a maximum range of 1,450 miles (2,334 km) and an operational ceiling of 56,100 feet (17,099 meters). It is powered by two General Electric J79-GE-17 afterburning turbojet engines, each producing 17,900 pounds of thrust. The maximum speed of the F-4 Phantom II was 1,485 miles per hour at 48,000 feet.

This bird was not to be toyed with. She carried with her into battle a 20 mm M61 Vulcan Gatling cannon with 640 rounds. In other words, she could do some damage as a close air support (CAS) bird. The Phantom also carried a variety of air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, including the AIM-7 Sparrow, AIM-9 Sidewinder, AGM-65 Maverick, and AGM-45 Shrike. F-4 Phantom IIs could carry nuclear weapons as well. 

These birds came equipped with an impressive countermeasures suite including chaff and flare dispensers. What’s more, the F-4 Phantom II was equipped with an AN/APQ-72 radar, an AN/APG-59 pulse-Doppler radar, and an AN/APR-25 radar warning receiver. All these tools came in handy when needing to repel fire either from enemy warplanes or from the ground. 

F-4 Fighter Phantom: Its Time Had Come

With the arrival of fourth-generation successors such as the F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon, the F-4 Phantom II had served her purpose. 

Understandably, the men who flew her and who have studied her engineering love this plane. They should. But it simply could not compete with the next-generation birds. Even in the CAS mission set, the A-10 Thunderbolt II was a superior plane. 

The F-4 had its time. It broke multiple records. The F-4 had an astonishing initial climb rate of over 41,000 feet per minute. The F-4 set a transcontinental speed record as well as achieving the world sea level speed record. 

There is much to be proud of when remembering the F-4 Phantom II. But by 1996, its time had come. It needed to be retired with its legacy of heroic and legendary service. Just as all men should know when to leave the party, the same is true for planes. 

Author Experience and Expertise: Brandon J. Weichert

Brandon J. Weichert, a National Interest national security analyst, is a former Congressional staffer and geopolitical analyst who is a contributor at The Washington Times, the Asia Times, and The-Pipeline. He is the author of Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His next book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine, is due October 22 from Encounter Books. Weichert can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.

All images are Creative Commons or Shutterstock. Main image is from a fire aboard USS John F. Kennedy in 1968.

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