With increasingly sophisticated technology now also makes advanced weapons technology more rapidly. There is no argument within the defense community that America needs a new family of military aircraft. The problem is money.
And finally the Pentagon decided it was time not only for new planes, but also for a less costly way of doing business. Thus, the birth of America's newest combat aircraft, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).
Lockheed Martin's design for The F-35 family tree branches into three distinct variants matches or exceeds F-16 performance levels and goes several steps beyond with more stealth, increased range on internal fuel, and advanced avionics. Operational effectiveness, supportability and survivability are greatly enhanced as a result.
Conflicts in recent years have clearly demonstrated the desirability of longer combat radius (or longer time on station). The HMDS (Helmet Mounted Display System) for the F-35 Lightning II, or Joint Strike Fighter, is an off-the-visor display providing the pilot with a wide field-of-view video image to both eyes. It offers next-generation technology in a compact, versatile and extremely rugged display with low power consumption. The F-35 will dramatically increase its user's ability to support combat operations at longer ranges due to its tremendous internal fuel capacity and single-engine design.
For example, the CTOL F-35A carries more than 18,000 pounds of internal fuel- more than two-and-one-half times the internal fuel capacity of the legacy multirole fighters it will replace. Likewise, the advantage in range more than doubles. The F-35 is not limited to internal fuel only; it can carry 600-gallon external drop tanks for ferry flights or for missions that do not require a stealthy signature.
The Air Force JSF variant poses the smallest relative engineering challenge. The aircraft has no hover criteria to satisfy. And the characteristics and handling qualities associated with carrier operations like catapult launches, control authority at approach speeds and beefed up structure to handle arrested landings do not come into play. On the other hand, the Air Force airplane will be measured against the high standards set by the F-16. As the biggest customer for the JSF, the service will not accept a multirole fighter replacement that doesn't significantly improve on the original. With the largest planned purchase, the USAF aircraft is also the program's affordability driver.
The Air Force JSF variant has an internal gun and a refueling receptacle on top of the fuselage behind the canopy. The aircraft carries an extensive array of electronic countermeasures internally. It also has an internal laser designator and infrared sensors. Information from the JSF's sensors is fused, or sorted out, before being sent to the helmet-mounted or head-down displays. The airplane also has an advanced electronically scanned array radar. Maneuverability characteristics are on a level with the F-16, with comparable instantaneous and sustained high-g performance. The JSF's range and payload are improved as well. The aircraft meets or exceeds all of the known service guidelines for flight performance.
The conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) F-35A will replace F-16s and A-10s in the US Air Force. It will complement the F/A-22 Raptor air-dominance fighter as a nine-G-rated aircraft with an internal 25 mm gun mounted on the left intake shoulder and a combat radius of more than 600 nautical miles (NM). This model- and all F-35 variants- will have two internal weapons bays, each capable of carrying a 2,000-pound precision-guided munition and a radar-guided AIM-120 air-to-air missile.
While U.S. Marines will fly the F-35B, which is detailed in the cutaway drawing to the right. While its overall shape, size and radar-absorbing stealth coatings are identical to the Air Force F-35A, the powerplant and airframe have been modified for short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) operation.
The Marines will use the F-35B to retire their current—and rapidly dwindling—fleet of British-designed AV-8B Harrier jump jets. F-35Bs would be deployed with Marine Expeditionary Units and operate off short-runway landing ships. Eventually, the Marines hope to buy 609 F-35Bs to replace the Harriers, as well as their carrier-based F/A-18C/D Hornets.
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| A Marines F-35B takes off (or lands) vertically. Notice the nozzle at the rear is pointing downwards, pushing the aircraft upwards, either to allow it to take off or to slow down landing.. (Picture from: http://weapons-of-destruction.blogspot.com/) |
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| F-35B Lightning II rotates its engine nozzle during the engine runs for the short takeoff/vertical landing fighter. (Picture from: http://air-attack.com/) |
And the U.S. Navy will fly the most visibly different member of the JSF family, the F-35C. Built using the same airframe and engine as the Air Force and Marine variants, it will have larger wing and tail-control surfaces. These are needed to maintain control at the lower speeds required for carrier approaches.
The wingbox and airframe will be strengthened to absorb the shock of catapult launches and arrested landings. Additional wing area—which is created with larger leading-edge flaps and foldable wingtip sections—means the F-35C will be able to carry more fuel for a longer operating range and a larger payload.
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| The Navy's variant of the F35, seen flying during mid-air refueling test. (Picture from: http://lanterloon.com/) |
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