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Carrier Variant Of F-35B Lightning II, STOVL
http://www.spacewar.com/reports/The_...ng_II_999.html
Work Starts On Carrier Variant Of F-35 Lightning II BAE Systems has started manufacture of the F-35 Lightning II Carrier Variant (CV). The CV aircraft is the final F-35 variant to start production and means that all three variants of the world's most advanced fighter aircraft are now being produced concurrently by BAE Systems. The initial manufacturing on the CV variant is of the first titanium and aluminium frames that will form part of the aft fuselage for the first CV aircraft, which is planned to take to the skies in 2009. The aft fuselage and empennage (vertical and horizontal tails) for each F-35 Lightning II variant are being designed, engineered and built by BAE Systems, using the latest in advanced digital design and manufacturing technology. BAE Systems' F-35 Lightning II Managing Director, Tom Fillingham said: "Developing three variants of the same aircraft, at the same time, is a first for the military aircraft industry. We are breaking new ground on the F-35 programme. "Each variant has its own unique challenges that have required some innovative solutions from the team. Now that we have all three variants in manufacture it is great to see all the design and engineering work coming together." The F-35 Lightning II programme is the world's largest defence programme and is currently in the System Development and Demonstration (SDD) phase. The SDD phase will see the production of 21 test aircraft. Fifteen F-35s will undergo flight test, and six will be used for static testing. Another high-fidelity full-scale model F-35 will validate the aircraft's radar signature. The aft fuselages for all variants of the F-35 are produced at BAE Systems' Samlesbury facility in Lancashire, UK. As production rates increase in the SDD phase, the BAE Systems team is starting a new aircraft assembly every four weeks - a significant achievement for this stage of a development programme. The three variants of the F-35 Lightning II are being developed to meet the different performance requirements of the US and UK armed forces. The Carrier Variant (CV) is being designed for the US Navy and must cope with the demands of the catapult launches and arrested landings on the large US aircraft carriers. The Conventional Take Off and Landing (CTOL) variant will meet the needs of the US Air Force. Finally the Short Take Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) variant is being developed to meet the operational requirements of the US Marine Corp and the UK. http://www.technologynewsdaily.com/node/8361 The F-35B Lightning II, STOVL Electrical power was applied to the Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-35B Lightning II for the first time Thursday night, initiating a series of ground tests that will lead to the inaugural flight of the short- takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) stealth fighter next spring. The F-35 will be the most electronically advanced aircraft ever built, with capabilities unavailable in current multi-role fighters. The F-35B's power-on is an incremental process of testing the aircraft's circuits, electronic components and wiring. The aircraft incorporates parts and systems from all nine F-35 participant countries (United States, United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Australia, Denmark and Norway), including the wiring harness, produced by Stork Fokker-Elmo of the Netherlands. The wiring harness is a crucial component of the F-35's electrical system, routing and apportioning electrical current throughout the aircraft. The U.S. Marine Corps and Navy together are planning to operate 680 F-35Bs and F-35Cs, and the United Kingdom plans to place 138 F-35Bs into service with the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy. The F-35B will be the world's first stealth fighter with supersonic and STOVL capability. The first F-35B fleet will go operational in 2012 with the Marines. The first F-35, a conventional takeoff and landing version, began its flight test program on Dec. 15, 2006. The F-35 is a supersonic, multi-role, 5th generation stealth fighter designed to replace a wide range of existing aircraft, including AV-8B Harriers, A-10s, F-16s, F/A-18 Hornets, and United Kingdom Harrier GR. 7s and Sea Harriers. Lockheed Martin is developing the F-35 Lightning II with its principal industrial partners, Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems. Two separate, interchangeable F-35 engines are under development: the Pratt & Whitney F135 and the GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team F136. |
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