Air Vehicle Block 4 Planning & Sys Eng
Abstract
The F-35 Air Vehicle Program Management Office (AV PMO) development portfolio includes efforts to improve the F-35 air vehicle lethality, survivability, and interoperability in response to emerging threats outlined in the National Security Strategy and Operational Plans. The AV PMO delivers these capabilities utilizing a Continuous Capability Development and Delivery (C2D2) strategy combining traditional hardware upgrades and agile software integration processes. F-35 Block 4 Modernization is designed to counter the full spectrum of evolving near-peer enemy threats to ensure US and Allied forces have freedom of operation even in the face of advanced adversary Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) capabilities. As designed, Block 4 consists of three principle lines of effort: development of software-based capabilities, development and integration of new and modernized aircraft hardware which enable the development of new capabilities, and new weapons integration. Efforts under the Air Vehicle / Block 4 Planning and Systems Engineering project range from requirements decomposition and preliminary design of capabilities through completion of Developmental Flight Test. These activities are a continuation of the previous Block 4 developmental contracts, and include activities required to enable the successful completion of Flight Test, to include select facility upgrades required for research, development, test and evaluation. Block 4 upgraded capabilities and continuous improvements will maintain Air System viability against the evolving threats indicated in the Electronic Warfare Initial Capabilities Document (ICD), the Fifth Generation Fighter Modernization ICD, and the Block 4 Capability Development Document (CDD). Additionally, the Block 4 capabilities will reduce life cycle cost, improve Air System Integration, and improve operational suitability. Weapons integration efforts included under this project include AARGM-ER integration, employment envelope expansion for current F-35 weapons, and Increased Air-to-Air Missile Carriage. Included in the Air Vehicle (AV)/Block 4 Planning and Systems Engineering effort is both Prime and Government Systems Engineering Support needed for Avionics/Electronic Warfare and Weapons Integration efforts to include studies, analysis and risk reduction efforts. The FY2025 funding request was reduced by $204 million to account for the availability of prior year execution balances This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, 0606398F. In FY23, $63.6M was expended for civilian pay expenses in this project element, and in FY24, $67.1M is forecasted for civilian pay expenses in this project element.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2025
- Source ID
- 673502_0604840F_7_3600_PB_2025
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