They have not made them yet. Besides, EFTs would screw with RCS. So again, the report is BS.

Besides, to go from 760nm to 1200nm (Bandar Abbas) using EFTs is impossible due to increased drag from the EFT.

The mission “could” have happened, but it would require two IFR hookups (one going and one coming back).

ALIS adds F135 support worldwide

Pratt & Whitney Techs Deploy Logistics Upgrade for F-35 Fleet

AM Staff | Mar 19, 2018
Jet-engine builder Pratt & Whitney reported that a team of subject matter experts completed an upgrade to F-35 Lightning II fleet-management system at 12 sites around the world, implementing automated tracking of life-limited propulsion parts for the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft. All of the operational bases where the JSF aircraft are deployed are updated to the latest version of the Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS version 2.0.2.4), which integrates the Pratt & Whitney’s F135 propulsion system for the first time.

More after the Jump
http://www.americanmachinist.com/am-news/pratt-whitney-techs-deploy-logistics-upgrade-f-35-fleet

IIRC the F-35B is only headed to the LHD/LHA.

Lockheed F-35 Cost Stabilizes at $406 Billion, Pentagon Says

The Pentagon’s estimated cost to develop and purchase Lockheed Martin Corp.’s F-35 jet, the costliest U.S. weapons program, has stabilized for now, according to a new report to Congress.

The total acquisition cost for the advanced fighter is projected at $406.1 billion, virtually unchanged from the $406.5 billion estimated last year, according to the Defense Department’s latest Selected Acquisition Report, which will be sent to Congress this week. The projections were obtained in advance by Bloomberg News.

Within the total — which includes research, development and initial support such as spare parts and military construction — the estimated cost to procure 2,456 U.S. aircraft has ticked down to $345.4 billion from $346.1 billion, or a 0.2 percent decline.

That’s good news for the F-35, which has wide support in Congress but a past marred by cost overruns. Last year, the annual acquisition report on major weapons estimated that costs would rise about 7 percent to $406.5 billion after several years of declining projections.

More at the link
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-13/lockheed-f-35-cost-stabilizes-at-406-billion-pentagon-says

I’ll give more details as they are released.

SOM-J for Internal JSF carry

Development on New F-35 Computer Progresses for Block 4.2

These new processors will be part of Tech Refresh 3 which is part of Block 4.2. It’s planned to arrive in the early 2020’s.

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded $24,000,000 for modification P00007 to a previously issued cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order (N0001917F0108) placed against basic ordering agreement N00019-14-G-0020. This modification provides for the procurement of Integrated Core Processor prototypes to support laboratory system integration for all Joint Strike Fighter aircraft variants. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in April 2019. Fiscal 2018 research, development, test and evaluation (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $11,100,000 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1458273/