Israel upgrades software for its F-35 squadron to counter Su-57 fighters.
Lockheed Martin is implementing an $11.4 million upgrade package to optimize the combat capabilities of the F-35I Adir fighter jet in the face of the Su-57's presence in the region.
In an effort to maintain air superiority in the Middle East, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) has officially launched a large-scale software upgrade program for its F-35 stealth fighter fleet. Lockheed Martin, the prime contractor for the project, received a $11.4 million contract amendment to develop specialized features specifically for Tel Aviv.
A specialized software upgrade package worth $11.4 million.
This funding focuses on producing three new software data packages, referred to as “productionized plus builds”. This is part of Phase II of the System Design and Development (SDD) program for Israel, which includes system engineering activities and software development based on existing enterprise platforms.
The upgrade was announced shortly after US and Israeli forces launched a major military operation in late February 2025. The software refinements are believed to be based on valuable real-world data obtained from high-intensity confrontations with Iranian and Hezbollah forces in Lebanon.
Israel's unique system customization privileges
Currently, the Israeli Air Force is the only force in the world authorized by the US to deeply interfere with the F-35's avionics systems. This decision stems from a request by the Israeli Ministry of Defense to integrate domestic technologies to ensure survivability in complex combat environments where pure stealth capabilities cannot solve the problem.
Although they don't have full access to the original source code, Israeli experts have the capability to install additional command code and their own electronic warfare systems onto the aircraft platform. Benni Cohen, General Manager of the Lahav branch of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), likens this architecture to installing an application on a smartphone: it provides flexible processing capabilities and a degree of independence from the original manufacturer.
The challenge posed by the appearance of the Su-57 in the region.
The F-35's dominant position in the Middle East and North Africa was officially threatened by the end of 2025 when Algeria commissioned Russia's fifth-generation Su-57 fighter jet. More notably, numerous reports indicate that Iran could be the next customer for this stealth aircraft.
Besides competition from rivals, Israel's F-35 fleet is also facing weapons limitations due to delays in the Block 4 software package. Without Block 4, this aircraft cannot deploy essential missiles such as the AGM-88 for suppressing enemy air defenses (SEAD).
Military analysts consider the current software upgrade to be an urgent strategic move by Israel. The goal is to optimize the capabilities of the 50 F-35s currently stationed at Nevatim Air Base, ensuring they are capable of directly confronting the most advanced weapons systems that Russia supplies to countries in the region.
