Paramount recently announced it reached a deal for “Top Gun 3.” “The hardware is good,” Lt. Gen. Michael Schmidt said. “It’s the rate at which they’re producing them to meet our production and retrofit needs." The congressman also worries the latest TR-3 deadline of mid-2024 could slip further: “I want to be positive, but call me skeptical." The first TR-3 F-35's initial checkout flight comes as the Joint Program Office hunts for a way to accelerate deliveries, perhaps using interim software. With the Air Force planning to retire the AWACS and replace the B-52's current engines, the contract could last for the remainder of the TF33's life. This will be the F-35's third delivery halt in less than a year, and dozens of newly-constructed aircraft could be affected. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown Jr. noted the upcoming trip at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Tuesday. “We currently are paying for a great capability, but we’re currently only getting a good capability fielded,” subcommittee chairman Rep. Rob Wittman said. With the aging E-3 AWACS becoming increasingly out of date and hard to maintain, top Air Force leaders say they want the new E-7 as soon as possible. E-3 Sentry aerial target tracking planes are the latest to undergo inspection for subpar tail pins. Load More