Lockheed Martin received a check for $ 29 million to make changes to the tanks of the Air Force F-35As already delivered and those (already in production) of Australia, Italy, the Netherlands, and Norway.
Completion of the retrofit is scheduled for next year.
The problems arose in 2014, when the high temperatures found at the Luke base in Arizona prevented the use of fuel. The F-35 (like any other aircraft) cannot tolerate fuel that exceeds a certain temperature. The only solution proposed was to repaint the trucks carrying the fuel white or in any case equip them with a reflective paint to keep it at temperature. Rather than attempting to modify the already exorbitant project, the Air Force repainted their trucks at a cost of $ 3900 each.
Future F-35s and refueling vehicles will be equipped with internal heat-reflective coatings.
