Could The F-35 Change Air Combat?

Three military fighter jets flying in formation above a landscape

Reports say the F-35’s upgraded radar could fry enemy electronics with microwave bursts—if true, that would change air combat overnight.

Story Highlights

Analysts report an F-35 radar mode that acts like a high-power microwave weapon.
High-power microwaves can disable or damage electronics, not just jam them.
The Joint Strike Fighter program confirms active electronically scanned array architecture on F-35s.
Officials have also admitted some new F-35s arrived without the next-gen radar, delaying upgrades.

What The New Claim Actually Says About The F-35

Australian analysts and open-source trackers say the F-35’s radar has a “high-power microwave-like” mode that may knock out enemy electronics. They base this on discussion transcripts and consistent reporting, not on a U.S. government spec sheet. They describe a multi-function array that can do more than spot targets. It could also push intense energy at hostile sensors and drones. That goes beyond routine radar or simple jamming and would be a major shift if deployed.

High-power microwaves focus short, intense pulses at radio receivers and processors. Those pulses can overload circuits and force gear to shut down or fail. That is different from jamming, which tries to confuse signals. A radar that can also deliver high-power microwave effects would let a pilot scout, track, communicate, and strike electronics with one nose-mounted array. Analysts say this could blind air defenses or clear drones without firing a missile if the mode is real and usable.

What We Know About The Radar Hardware On The Jet

The official Joint Strike Fighter program describes the F-35’s radar as an active electronically scanned array with a multi-function design. The program states the array and its radio frequency electronics support wide, agile modes and fast beam steering. That architecture is the foundation needed for advanced functions. It does not confirm a high-power microwave attack mode. It does show the F-35 already has the building blocks to layer new software-defined effects over time as the fleet modernizes.

Open-source reports add that similar concepts are showing up in Europe. Eurofighter Typhoon upgrades and the Global Combat Air Programme reportedly explore radar-based electronic attack that may approach high-power microwave effects. This suggests a broader push among allies to make fighter radars do more jobs at once. If fielded, these modes could give Western pilots a first-strike edge against sensors, drones, and command links without using precious missiles early in a fight.

The Evidence Gaps And Why They Matter

There is no U.S. Department of Defense flight test data or technical manual that confirms an operational high-power microwave mode on the F-35. The phrase “high-power microwave-like” signals uncertainty about power levels, dwell time, and real-world effectiveness. The reports also do not name engineers, list a radar software build, or point to a specific upgraded array model on the jet today. These gaps mean the claim remains plausible but unverified by primary, on-record sources.

This story claims that the F-35's new APG-85 radar could end up functioning as an airborne high-power microwave weapon https://t.co/v23F2YmAcT

Heres the transcript of the SASC hearing for reference, which does not contain any explicit mention or even allusion to that capability… pic.twitter.com/hyYXti7kTJ

— Laser Wars (@laserwarsHQ) July 1, 2026

Program delays also add fog. The Pentagon and the F-35 Joint Program Office confirmed some new F-35Bs were accepted without the next-generation AN/APG-85 radar due to delays. Officials said production units of that new radar are not expected until later, pushing timelines for advanced features. That does not disprove an “HPM-like” mode on the older APG-81, but it shows the upgrade path is bumpy. It also shows why public confirmation may lag behind engineering work.

What This Means For Deterrence Under Trump

Adversaries push drone swarms, networked air defenses, and cheap sensors. A fighter that can spot, jam, and burn through electronics at the speed of light would help American pilots win fast. If the mode exists and works, it would lower costs per shot and ease missile strain in long fights. That aligns with common-sense defense: clear the skies, protect our forces, and keep American jets lethal without wasting billion-dollar stockpiles on dime-store drones.

Americans should also demand clarity. Congress can press for a closed-session briefing on radar-based directed energy progress, test milestones, and safety limits. The administration can push contractors to hit delivery schedules and protect taxpayers from avoidable delays. Transparency where possible keeps faith with the public while guarding secrets from enemies. That balance strengthens deterrence without feeding hype or handing propaganda wins to Beijing, Moscow, or Tehran.

How To Read The Noise Without Getting Spun

Defense tech often appears in analyst reports years before official confirmation. That is normal. Directed energy claims, in particular, move from rumor to proof slowly because power, cooling, and safety are hard, and secrets matter. The smart stance is cautious optimism. The F-35’s radar architecture supports growth. Analysts have flagged a promising, disruptive mode. Officials have not confirmed it. Watch for test data, delivery of the next-gen radar, and quiet doctrine shifts that signal real field use.

Bottom line for readers: America must own the electromagnetic fight. If the F-35 can disable enemy electronics with its radar, that is a win for our pilots and a warning to our foes. Until proof lands, do not dismiss the reports, and do not oversell them. Demand results, back the men and women who fly and fix these jets, and keep pressure on Washington and industry to deliver tools that end fights fast and bring our warriors home safe.