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F-35 Deliveries To Be Made Without Radars Due To APG-85 Delays

March 19, 2026

2 min read

Key Takeaways

New F-35 deliveries will come without radars due to APG-85 delays.
Aircraft will be airworthy but not combat-coded.
Delays may impact over a hundred jets.
Foreign buyers will receive jets with the APG-81 radar.

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Strategic Implications

The radar issue may indicate challenges in the F-35 program's ability to integrate new technologies, which could impact the jet's combat effectiveness. Delays in the APG-85 radar delivery suggest that the US military may face limited combat readiness for new F-35s, which could have significant implications for national security.

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What Happened

US Military Faces Limited Combat Readiness For New Jets

The US military will start receiving new F-35 Joint Strike Fighters without radars due to delays in the delivery of the APG-85 radar system. The aircraft will still be airworthy but cannot be used in combat operations, according to sources familiar with the situation. The issue is expected to impact the F-35B and F-35C fleets, with the Marine Corps set to accept new jets without radars in the coming months. The problem stems from the APG-85’s different size and bulkhead requirements, which cannot be accommodated by the current APG-81 radar. This was first reported by Breaking Defense.

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