Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II

History of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II

The Lockheed F-35 "Lightning II" (unofficially nicknamed "Black Panther") is an American 5th generation fighter jet that combines new and learned stealth technologies and practices with advanced computer processing and system combined. The original project goal (originally the "Joint Strike Fighter") was to develop a single airframe (via the "F-35A") capable of serving multiple units of the U.S. Department of Defense (i.e., the U.S.

Air Force). , the U.S. Navy (via the carrier-capable "F-35C"), and the U.S. Marine Corps (via the VTOL-capable "F-35B"). Other major global players are the Royal Air Force (RAF) and Royal Navy (RN)

As a result, the F-35 program spawned three related but distinct airframes to reflect the operators' respective missions, each focusing on the same single-engine, single-seat approach. Despite the differences between production models, the aircraft remains a supersonic aircraft (Mach 1.0+) with an inherent lethal strike capability unmatched by any other modern battlefield platform.

Although the F035's appearance mimics Lockheed's other fighter project, the F-22 Raptor, the F035's role is primarily air-to-air attack as an auxiliary. The F-22 is best known as an air superiority fighter.

The F-35 is required to perform offensive missions through the use of precision-guided bomb drop, conventional bomb drop, and air-launched missiles, while enabling advanced real-time aerial reconnaissance and radar suppressionwhile maintaining air-to-air capability.

The most unique of the trio, the F-35B variant provides pilots and war planners with a platform similar in quality to the classic BAe AV-8 Harrier vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) jet airplane. The Lockheed B model better embraced this design by becoming the first supersonic-capable VTOL design in aviation history.

From the outset, the final F-35 product was envisioned as an "affordable" combat platform, resulting in the development of a multi-mission single airframe that could meet customer needs. As such, the completed fighter jet will receive a sophisticated Battlefield Management System (BMS) that enables it to receive and track real-time information, which in turn will allow pilots and aircraft to respond accordingly, while also transmitting relevant information to other allied forces Troop. The aircraft features a simplified maintenance program that focuses on sensitive stealth components and skin coatings.

Throughout the design phase, the F-35 employs a number of radar countermeasures/absorption measures, including a special blend of building materials, surface coatings, square edges and internal sensors, to minimize the impact of the aircraft on radar from most directions.

The F-35 program grew into an international effort that went beyond US and UK commitments and, to varying degrees, covered Australia, Canada, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and Turkey. Each country wants to operate the F-35 platform at a certain number of points, and each participant is rated by partner level (UK is the top partner for "Tier 1" contributors, while Italy and the Netherlands are "2" Level 3 is a "Partner" and Canada, Turkey, Australia, Norway and Denmark are "Level 3" partners.

Israel and Singapore are registered as "Security Cooperation Participants" (SCP).

At the beginning of the program, the following numbers of F-35s were planned by the various aviation services involved: US Air Force (1,763); US Navy/USMC (680); RAF/RN ( 138); Italy (131); Netherlands (85); Turkey (100); Australia (100); Norway (56, down from 48 in June 2009); Denmark (48); Canada (80). Norway's F-35s will replace the aging F-16 Fighting Falcon fleet, while Italy's F-35s will undergo final assembly at its Cameri Air Force Base.

Cost estimates for a single F-35 aircraft unit in original FY02 program dollars are as follows: F-35A (over $40 million); F-35B (over $60 million); F-35C (over $60 million) ). Delays and natural program progress inevitably lead to higher unit costs: $82 for the F-35A. 4 million; F-35B ($108 million); F-35C ($103 million).

Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program

The Joint Strike Fighter program was launched on November 16, 1996, as the United States attempted to develop a "next-generation" fighter airframe capable of replacing the then expanding variety of special fighter and fighter-bomber types in the U.S. war inventory. New design Will have to replace the Lockheed F-16 'Fighting Falcon', the Fairchild Republic A-10 'Warthog', the carrier-based Boeing F/A-18 'Hornet' and the McDonnell Douglas AV- 8B 'Harrier II' (the latter Also covers the development of the British Harrier on the attacking Harrier GR. Mk 7 and GR. Mk 9).

It's not an easy task when you consider the worldwide success of a single aircraft in aviation history.

Replace the heavyweights of the Cold War

So far, the Lockheed (formerly General Dynamics) F-16 Fighting Falcon has proven itself in countless conflicts, operating in the Middle East since 1981. The F-16 is a light aircraft also dedicated to air superiority that is capable of ground attack as well as maintaining a healthy ability to mount a variety of munitions to meet field demands. The multi-talented artist became an integral part of the U.S. Air Force and its allies in South America, the Middle East, Europe and the Pacific.

Production of this sophisticated fighter reached more than 4,600, the first of which was introduced in 1978.

The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt is a highly unique Close Support Aircraft (CAS) tasked with destroying enemy armor at low speed/low altitude. The system was built from the ground up for the survival of the pilot and the system, resulting in a "flying tank" with cockpit armor, elevated engine nacelles, and the inherent ability to withstand massive battlefield penalties. The aircraft can fly on one engine if necessary and is capable of carrying an impressive weapons load including missiles (air-to-air and air-to-surface types) and bombs (conventional and guided types).

However, the A-10 has always been known for its nose-mounted seven-barreled 30mm Avenger Gatling cannon, which made Cold War-era armor short. The single-seat A-10 platform was introduced in 1977, and 715 prototypes were eventually produced, including the two-seat Forward Air Control (FAC) version.

The F/A-18 Hornet for the Navy was derived from the YF-17 Cobra light demonstrator, a design that lost out to the design that eventually became the USAF General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon and others. However, the US Navy took an interest in the lost aircraft and opted for a redesigned (and larger) F/A-18 Hornet to replace the aging Grumman F-14 Tomcat Wing Fleet Defense Grumman A - 6 "Invader" attack platforms and Vought A-7 "Corsair II" attackers on all U.S. aircraft carriers.

The product is designed to be a multi-purpose performer, equally capable of taking on the Tomcat's air superiority role, while providing the strike capabilities of the Raider and Corsair II. Like the F-16, the F/A-18 Hornet has proven itself globally since it entered mass production in early 1983, and was further developed into the two-seat F/A-18E/F Super Hornet variant. body.

The McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II (along with their British counterparts GR.7 and GR.9) is a modernized version of the original Hawker Siddeley Harrier VTOL close support multipurpose jump jet. The Americanized AV-8B was developed specifically for the U.S. Marine Corps "single-handedly" while the British pursued other aircraft interests at the time, eventually returning to the U.S. Marine Corps program as a junior partner.

The Harrier's history makes it one of the most dangerous and complex flying machines, but it also makes it one of the most unique pieces on the battlefield - a jet that combines the performance of a fighter jet with the performance of a helicopter.

It is these impressive Cold War developments that the Joint Strike Fighter program seeks to replace.

Background

The F-35 is the aircraft that emerged from the American JSF and competed with the Boeing "X-32" as the "X-35" for five years. The plan calls for the construction of two Concept Demonstration Aircraft (CDA), and engineers rely heavily on computer design work to better predict data associated with CDA aircraft. The final proposal was crowned with a multi-page proposal that promised to detail the maintenance requirements and construction needs of the aircraft.

The winner of the program was finally determined on October 26, 2001.

Although both aircraft appeared to fit the bill, the Lockheed proposal was chosen over the Boeing proposal because it consistently outperformed the Boeing design enough to win, and in the long run it was seen as " less" financial risk. The X-32 also used a more traditional "vector thrust" approach, similar to the Harrier, for its vertical and takeoff approaches.

The third proposal, made by the Northrop Grumman/McDonald Douglas team, is to use a rather interesting "lift-plus-lift"/cruising method similar to that in the Soviet Yakovlev Yak-38" The method found on Forger". The Lockheed team opted for a dedicated lift fan system located at the center of mass aft of the cockpit and combined with a rotating rear engine exhaust nozzle to achieve the same balanced result - both propulsion units from one Single engine related. Despite being an untested new component, Lockheed's patented buoyancy fan is seen as a more sensible long-term approach. The lift fan concept has some distinct advantages over the X-32's thrust vectoring system because the lift fan cools the down-thrust air, which means the chance of hot exhaust gas re-entering the engine is minimised. In addition, the space requirement of the lift-fan propulsion system is an advantage for the proposed X-35A and X-35C conventional fighter branches, which are scheduled to be dismantled, meaning more internal fuel storage can be carried - thus increasing the operational range.

Since the U.S. The Marine Corps was initially more interested in responsive short-haul aircraft, a limitation that the STOVL version of the X-35 (X-35B) might overlook.

Getting the X-35 contract for Lockheed was no small feat and involved a lot of risk. If all options are exercised, the X-35 program (and the subsequent F-35 production phase) could net the company about $200 billion. Engine maker Pratt & Whitney also joined as a major engine supplier and was awarded a $4 billion contract for its share of engine development and production.

Not content to sit still, the Brits joined and invested $2 billion in the project, ultimately hoping to get the country's first 5th-generation fighter jet - and stealth for the first time.

The project also includes significant contributions from Northrop Grumman and British Aerospace (BAe).

Development

The production F-35 was derived from three X prototypes - the first being the X-35A, built at the Skunk Works factory in Palmdale. The X-35A first flew on October 24, 2000, before being transferred to Edwards Air Force Base for rigorous testing, including aerial refueling and supersonic flight. After completing 27 flight tests on November 22, 2000, the vehicle returned to Palmdale to be converted into a prototype X-35B STOVL variant. The X-35C actually became the second aircraft in the series to be built during the X-35A-X-35B conversion. The X-35C was developed as a "backup" for the more complex X-35B, and was poised to receive a lift fan assembly in the event that the X-35B was lost in an accident or other major complication.

The first F-35 Lightning II completed its maiden flight on December 15, 2006. The first F-35A completed flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base on October 23, 2008. Shortly thereafter, supersonic flight was achieved on November 13, 2008.