 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| . |  |
. |
F-35C Stealth On The Carrier Deck Means High Performance, Low Maintenance
Fort Worth TX (SPX) Mar 25, 2008 The U.S. Navy's version of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is scheduled to make its first flight next year, but technicians have spent the last decade perfecting the aircraft's stealth design and materials to ensure they stand up to harsh carrier-deck and combat conditions with very little upkeep. "The F-35C's stealth will bring a profound increase in capability to the Navy's fighter fleet. What it will not bring is increased maintenance," said Steve O'Bryan, a former carrier fighter pilot and director of F-35 Domestic Business Development for Lockheed Martin. "The Lightning II is a 5th generation fighter with supportable stealth that was designed into the aircraft from the very beginning. It will endure extreme abuse without degrading its stealth radar-signature performance." The F-35 is a supersonic, multi-role, 5th generation stealth fighter. Three F-35 variants derived from a common design, developed together and using the same sustainment infrastructure worldwide, will replace at least 13 types of aircraft for 11 nations initially, making the Lightning II the most economical fighter program in history. The program is on schedule to deliver aircraft to the U.S. military services beginning in 2010. The first test aircraft has completed 35 flights and has exceeded performance expectations. The inaugural flight of the first short takeoff/vertical landing F-35B is on schedule for mid-2008. All 19 test aircraft are in production flow or on the flightline, and assembly has begun on the first two production F-35s. The F-35 achieves its Very Low Observable stealth performance through its fundamental design, its external shape and its manufacturing processes, which control tolerances to less than half the diameter of a human hair. Special coatings are added to further reduce radar signature. The package is designed to remain stealthy in severe combat conditions, and tests have validated that capability. After obtaining baseline radar cross section (RCS) measurements from a highly detailed, full-scale Signature Measurement Aircraft (SigMA), a team of Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman engineers intentionally inflicted extensive damage - more than three dozen significant defects - on the model. The damage represented the cumulative effect of more than 600 flight hours of military aircraft operations. RCS measurements taken after the damage showed that the stealthy signature remained intact. "Even operating in harsh carrier-deck conditions, the F-35C will require no special care or feeding. In fact, its stealth adds very little to the day-to-day maintenance equation," O'Bryan said. "We've come a long way from the early stealth airplanes, which needed hours or even days of attention and repair after every flight. The F-35 not only avoids that intensive level of upkeep, it will require significantly less maintenance than the nonstealth fighters it is designed to replace." A total of 2,581 F-35s are planned for the U.S. and U.K. services, with more than 600 additional aircraft expected to be integrated into the air forces of seven other partnering nations. Built in three variants, the F-35 will replace AV-8Bs and F/A-18s for the U.S. Marine Corps; A-10s and F-16s for the U.S. Air Force; F/A-18s for the U.S. Navy; Sea Harriers, GR.7s and GR.9s for the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and Royal Navy; and other aircraft currently used by F-35 participant countries. The F-35A is a conventional takeoff and landing variant designed for use with conventional runways. The F-35B is a short takeoff/vertical landing version that can operate from small carriers, austere bases and deploy near front-line combat zones. The F-35C will be the U.S. Navy's first stealth aircraft, and is designed to withstand the rigors of catapult launches and arrested recoveries aboard the Navy's large carriers. All F-35s are stealthy and supersonic, and incorporate the most powerful and comprehensive avionics suite ever flown on a fighter aircraft. Lockheed Martin is developing the F-35 with its principal industrial partners, Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems. Two separate, interchangeable F-35 engines are under development: the Pratt and Whitney F135 and the GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team F136. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links The latest in Military Technology for the 21st century at SpaceWar.com
Raytheon To Supply 16 AESA Radars To Boeing For USAF And Air National Guard F-15Cs
El Segundo CA (SPX) Mar 18, 2008Raytheon's active electronically scanned array radar team has secured additional wins to advance further the company's AESA radar business. Raytheon will provide a next-production lot of advanced F-15C radar systems to the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard. |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2007 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
