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Eventually, the Joint Advanced Strike program was launched in 1993. It was then decided that the new aircraft should be single engine and single crewed. Shortly after, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, McDonnell Douglas, and Northrop Grumman accepted to start research for the given program, with Northrop Grumman and McDonnel Douglas soon joining eachother. In August 1995, the program was renaimed to Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), after fusing with DARPA's Advanced Short Take-off and Vertical Landing (ASTOVL) program. As a result, the Royal Navy gained and interest and soon joined, as they were looking for a successor to their Sea Harriers.<ref>http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/jsf.htm "Joint Strike Fighter (JSF)"]</ref> |
Eventually, the Joint Advanced Strike program was launched in 1993. It was then decided that the new aircraft should be single engine and single crewed. Shortly after, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, McDonnell Douglas, and Northrop Grumman accepted to start research for the given program, with Northrop Grumman and McDonnel Douglas soon joining eachother. In August 1995, the program was renaimed to Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), after fusing with DARPA's Advanced Short Take-off and Vertical Landing (ASTOVL) program. As a result, the Royal Navy gained and interest and soon joined, as they were looking for a successor to their Sea Harriers.<ref>http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/jsf.htm "Joint Strike Fighter (JSF)"]</ref> |
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+ | In 1996 Lockheed Martin's and Boeing' proposals were awarded as the early winners to built their prototypes the X-35 by Lockheed and the X-32 by Boeing had been made. The X-35 absolved its first flight on October 24th, 2000, while the X-32 had its maiden flight a bit earlier on September 18th. |
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+ | Both designs where able to fullfill the given requirements. However Boeings aircraft showed to be too high in risk, regarding its complex STOVL system. In addition to that the X-35 proved to have superior flying characteristics, partly due to being less heavy than the X-32. |
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Revision as of 15:15, 24 December 2016
Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II | ||
---|---|---|
Description | ||
Role | Stealth multirole fighter | |
Crew | 1 | |
Passengers | 0 | |
First flight | 2006 | |
Entered service | 2015 | |
Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin | |
Produced | 140 (as of July 2015) | |
Dimensions | ||
Length | 15,67 m | |
Wingspan | 10,67 m | |
Height | 4,57 m | |
Wing area | 42,70 m² (F-35C: 62,06 m²) | |
Weights | ||
Empty | 13,170 kg | |
Loaded | 22,280 kg | |
Maximum takeoff | 30,000 kg | |
Powerplant | ||
Engine | ||
Power (each) | ||
Performance | ||
Maximum speed | Greater than Mach 1.6 | |
Cruising speed | ||
Range | 2222 km | |
Ceiling | 15,240 m | |
Rate of climb | classified |
The F-35 Lightning II was the winner of the Joint Strike Fighter program. It is a single-seat single-engine multi-role fighter under development. The F-35 is intended to carry out ground attacks, reconnaissance, and air defense missions with stealth capability. Furthermore, it is considered the first stealth multi-role fighter.
Development
JSF Program Background
The origins of the JSF program date back to the Soviet era and given advancements in their air defense technologies. With the following collapse of the Soviet Union, these problems in terms of Close Air Support Capabilities remained. For example the A-10 being too slow and the and the A-7 having insufficient fuel capacity. F-16s equipped with a head steered thermal imaging turret seemed to be a solution for the problem. However with Operation Desert Storm during the 1980's, the weaknesses in terms of strike capability got even clearer, showing an inadequacy in terms of combat radius of the F-16. As a result, each, the Air Force, the Navy and the Marines voiced their respective requirements for a new multirole strike aircraft.[1]
- USN: Need for a survivable strike fighter aircraft to complement F/A-18E/F and to replace the F/A-18C fleet
- USAF: Need for multirole aircraft (primary-air-to-ground) to replace the F-16 and A-10, as well as to complement the F-22 fleet
- USMC: STOVL aircraft to replace the AV-8B and F/A-18
The resulting aircraft should also include similar stealth capabilities to the already existing F-22 Raptor fighter, while carrying a majority of its payload internally and being cheaper to produce than the F-22.[2]
Eventually, the Joint Advanced Strike program was launched in 1993. It was then decided that the new aircraft should be single engine and single crewed. Shortly after, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, McDonnell Douglas, and Northrop Grumman accepted to start research for the given program, with Northrop Grumman and McDonnel Douglas soon joining eachother. In August 1995, the program was renaimed to Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), after fusing with DARPA's Advanced Short Take-off and Vertical Landing (ASTOVL) program. As a result, the Royal Navy gained and interest and soon joined, as they were looking for a successor to their Sea Harriers.[3]
In 1996 Lockheed Martin's and Boeing' proposals were awarded as the early winners to built their prototypes the X-35 by Lockheed and the X-32 by Boeing had been made. The X-35 absolved its first flight on October 24th, 2000, while the X-32 had its maiden flight a bit earlier on September 18th.
Both designs where able to fullfill the given requirements. However Boeings aircraft showed to be too high in risk, regarding its complex STOVL system. In addition to that the X-35 proved to have superior flying characteristics, partly due to being less heavy than the X-32.
Avionics
Sensor fusion
One of the main aspects, that differs 5th generation fighter like the F-35 or the F-22 from 4th generation fighters, is the implementation of sensor fusion. What this means is, that all the data which is collected by each system on the aircraft is melted into a bigger picture to greatly increase the pilot's situational awareness. However, these are not the only advantages gained from sensor fusion. It allows to add in information that couldn't directly be received from a single sensor. Another great advantage is that information can be shared with allies much more easily. This allows a group of F-35's to see the same picture, based on all their collected data. [4]
Gallery
References
- ↑ "Lockheed-Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter"
- ↑ "Lockheed-Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter"
- ↑ http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/jsf.htm "Joint Strike Fighter (JSF)"]
- ↑ http://www.sldinfo.com/whitepapers/the-f-35-and-advanced-sensor-fusion/ ["F-35 and Advanced Sensor Fusion"]