From the latest DOTE report FMS software development and updates run about 20 months behind updates to the Mission Data Files which include the regional threat environment. That’s for the US forces. Additionally release for each version to each partner nation for their simulators needs to be individually certified. Being not unduly pessimistic I would assume that the threat would updated at least annually and that would mean the FMS always running about 2/3 years and 2 versions behind both the latest flight management software and threat environment in the aircraft?
“.....The program is behind in developing and fielding training simulators, referred to as F-35 Full Mission Simulators (FMS), to train pilots, both at the integrated training centers for initial F-35 pilot training and at the operational locations. The FMS is a multi-ship, man-in-the-loop, F-35 mission systems software-in-the-loop simulation using virtual threats, it is used to train both U.S. and partner pilots.......
Since the FMS runs F-35 mission systems software, it requires Block 3F mission data, integrated with virtual threats, to build the threat environment simulation (TES). It currently takes up to 20 months for the program to build the TES after new mission data are available.”....