Testing will soon begin on the next-generation Block 4 software expected to provide a capability boost to Lockheed Martin's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. On 16 January, the US Navy announced - via a posting on the federal government's procurement website - that the F-35's joint programme office intends to award multiple contracts to Lockheed Martin to develop Block 4 software, with the first contract expected to be awarded in October 2014. The contracts will include "assessments and evaluations" to ensure Block 4-equipped aircraft meet "future operational requirements", it says. When completed, Block 4 software will provide the F-35 with improved radar, and allow the aircraft to carry additional weapons used by both the US military and other F-35 customers. A document posted on the website of the US Embassy in Norway - a customer for the conventional take-off and landing F-35A - provides more details, however. This says that aircraft with the Block 4 software package will be able to carry joint stand-off cruise missiles -including Kongsberg's joint Strike Missile - and Raytheon AIM-9X Sidewinder Block 11 air-to-air missiles. Additionally, the iterative de-velopment will add an automated ground collision avoidance system, better protection from hacking and improvements to power management, to avoid issues that have been raised over the JSF's integrated power package since at least 2007. These culminated in a grounding of the F-35 fleet in 2011.
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