The F-35 Joint Program Office has submitted its updated acquisition plan for the strike fighter aircraft to the office of Ellen Lord, undersecretary for acquisition and sustainment at the Defense Department, for approval, Defense News reported Wednesday.
Vice Adm. Mat Winter, director of the F-35 JPO, said during a roundtable on Monday that Lord is expected to provide her decision on the F-35 modernization strategy in the coming weeks.
He added that the revised plan outlines new cost estimates for the development of F-35 Block 4 modifications, which will involve the use of the Continuous Capability Development and Delivery method.
The F-35 JPO drafted the modernization document to describe the need to modernize the stealth aircraft to keep up with evolving threats.
The program office proposed integrating 53 new capabilities in Block 4, some of which will be delivered in April 2019.
Winter added that the F-35 will also go through a Tech Refresh 3 cycle to incorporate 22 modifications such as a new integrated core processor, memory system and panoramic cockpit display.