It was claimed that some F-35s delivered to the U.S. were added to the inventory without advanced radar. Türkiye’s F-35 process is back on the agenda.
As of 2025 in the United States, it has been claimed that some F-35 Lightning II fighter jets were added to the inventory without the advanced AN/APG-85 radar system. The aircraft, reportedly delivered without radar due to production delays, have sparked debates in defence circles over security and operational adequacy.
Claim of radarless delivery
According to U.S.-based defence publication Avionics International, some of the next-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter jets were included in the U.S. Air Force inventory without the advanced AN/APG-85 radar system being integrated.
According to the claim, deliveries were not halted due to delays in the production and technical compatibility processes of the new radar system; instead, the aircraft were accepted without radar as a temporary solution.
Why couldn’t the radar be installed?
Technical disruptions experienced during the integration process of the AN/APG-85 radar planned for use in next-generation F-35s caused a bottleneck on the production line.
It was stated that the older AN/APG-81 radar currently used in existing F-35s was not compatible with the assembly system in the new production blocks. Therefore, it was noted that the old radar could not be temporarily installed either.
Manufacturer Lockheed Martin preferred to deliver the aircraft without the radar system rather than completely halting production.
How are they flying? Ballast placed in the nose
Additional weights called “ballast” were placed in the nose section where the radar should be located in order to maintain the aircraft’s aerodynamic balance. This allows flight safety to be ensured.
However, defence experts state that an F-35 without radar cannot detect targets on its own and can only carry out missions by receiving data from other platforms. It is emphasised that this situation may pose serious operational risks, especially in a hot conflict environment.
Costs may increase further
It is reported that Lockheed Martin has proposed a new fuselage design capable of carrying both the old and new radar systems, but this would require recertification and production line updates.
In the F-35 programme, where the unit cost is currently estimated between $115 million and $130 million, such a revision could further increase costs.
F-35s are considered among the most expensive fifth-generation fighter jets worldwide.
Türkiye’s F-35 process
Latest situation on the Ankara–Washington line
Although Türkiye was one of the manufacturing partners of the F-35 programme, it was removed from the programme after purchasing the S-400 air defence system from Russia.
U.S. officials argued that the S-400 system could risk sensitive data regarding the F-35’s radar and stealth capabilities.
U.S. President Donald Trump stated in recent remarks that F-35 deliveries could return to the agenda, but no clear timetable regarding the process was shared.
The U.S. Ambassador to Ankara, Tom Barrack, had stated that Türkiye’s F-35 procurement process could be resolved within four to six months. However, National Defence Minister Yaşar Güler said in his latest statement at the Turkish Grand National Assembly, “There is no development yet.”
