Lockheed Martin Unveils F-35B Lightning II - First STOVL Stealth Fighter
STOVL = “Short Take-Off Vertical Landing”
Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II, the first fighter to combine stealth with short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) capability and supersonic speed, made its debut amid customers from the United States Marine Corps, the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, and the Italian Air Force and Navy.
Attendees at the rollout ceremony in Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth assembly plant included Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Conway. “The flexibility that the STOVL variant of the F-35 will add to the contemporary Marine Air Ground Task Force is amazing,” Conway said. “This generational leap in technology will enable us to operate a fleet of fighter/attack aircraft from the decks of ships, existing runways or from unimproved surfaces at austere bases. We find that capability extremely valuable.”
The F-35B, designed to replace Marine Corps AV-8Bs and F/A-18s, is one of three variants of the Lightning II. Its first flight is planned for mid-2008, following a series of extensive ground tests. The F-35A conventional takeoff and landing version began its flight test program in December of 2006. The F-35C, designed for catapult launches and arrested recoveries aboard large U.S. Navy carriers, will make its inaugural flight in 2009.
“Think F/A-18 speed and maneuverability, AV-8B forward deployment, F-22 stealth, and astonishing avionics,” said Dan Crowley, Lockheed Martin executive vice president and F-35 program general manager. “It’s a combination of technologies that may seem like science fiction, but our abundantly-talented international team has made it science fact.”
The heart of the F-35B is a STOVL propulsion system comprising the most powerful engine ever flown in a jet fighter, a shaft-driven counter-rotating lift fan situated behind the cockpit, a roll duct under each wing for lateral stability, and a rear 3-bearing swivel nozzle that vectors engine exhaust in the desired direction.
During vertical or short takeoffs, or vertical landings, doors above and below the lift fan open, and a clutch connecting the lift fan to the engine drive shaft engages. A dorsal auxiliary engine inlet opens to increase airflow to the engine. At the same time, doors beneath the 3-bearing swivel nozzle open and the rear nozzle pivots downward, deflecting engine thrust toward the ground. Roll ducts under each wing also are engaged, keeping the aircraft laterally stable.
In this configuration, the F-35B can hover, land vertically, take off in a few hundred feet fully loaded, or take off vertically with a light load. When the aircraft transitions from jet-borne to conventional wing-borne flight, the doors close and the pilot can then accelerate to supersonic speeds. The system is completely automatic.
The Lockheed Martin X-35B successfully demonstrated the shaft-driven lift fan propulsion system in 2001, becoming the only aircraft in history to execute a short takeoff, level supersonic dash and vertical landing in a single flight.
The Pratt and Whitney F135 engine will power the first series of F-35Bs. The F136, an interchangeable engine under development by the GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team, will make its first F-35 flight in 2010. Rolls-Royce produces the shaft-driven lift fan, 3-bearing swivel nozzle and roll duct systems.
An additional six development STOVL F-35s are now in production across the worldwide F-35 supply chain. In 2007, long-lead procurement funds for the first six production STOVL aircraft were authorized, with the first Marine Corps training jets planned for a 2011 delivery.
The F-35 Lightning II is a supersonic, multi-role, 5th generation stealth fighter designed to replace a wide range of existing aircraft, including AV-8Bs, A-10s, F-16s, F/A-18 Hornets and United Kingdom GR.7s and Sea Harriers.
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.
(SPX)
Be respectful of others and their opinions. Inflammatory remarks and inane leftist drivel will be deleted. It ain’t about free speech, remember you’re in a private domain. My website, my prerogative.
If you can't handle using your real email address, don't bother posting a comment.
The heart of the F-35B is a STOVL propulsion system comprising the most powerful engine ever flown in a jet fighter?
…and we are selling it to the People’s Republic of Italy? I don’t get it.
December 20th, 2007 at 12:36 amWe’re not selling it. Lockheed is selling it. The F-35 isn’t that great of a fighter anyway. It’s a multi-purpose platform set to replace the aging F/A-18. The real fighter of the USA is the F-22. The military forbids foreign sales of the F-22 because it is the most advanced figher in the world. The F-22 is our tactical edge, the F-35 is a multi-use platform that we can share with the world. Brings some more money into the America enconomy too. Hurray Capitalism!
December 20th, 2007 at 7:35 amhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6WFyNMnFgI
F35 Lightning II Flight Testing and STOVL Capabilities
December 20th, 2007 at 7:46 amThe F-35 is low cost (compared to the F-22) and multi role, which makes it desirable in a world with tightening budgets. I just don’t know how the Navy or Marine Corps is going to keep a stealth jet flying when each scratch in the paint will destealth it and will take it offline for up to a week. besides, the salt water will corrode the shit out of that paint too. They should probably make a non stealth version for them…thats not me talking, thats an engineer friend of mine that is currently working on the program.
December 20th, 2007 at 8:14 amReplacing the A-10? I don’t think so. I’d rather have an A-1 Sandy instaed of the F-35 if that statement is true. Or give them to the Army. Eliminate the A-10? Really stupid idea.
December 20th, 2007 at 8:46 amProud to say “I am helping bring this aircraft to our Forces!”
December 20th, 2007 at 9:10 am“The F-35 isn’t that great of a fighter anyway”
Where did you get your aerospace engineering degree? The F-35, while not the overwhelming superior aircraft that the F-22 is at least it isn’t cost prohibitive as the F-22, the f-35 is still hands down superior to any other aircraft in the world it could come up against. The JSF stands for Joint Strike Fighter. It is an American and Nato alliance made aircraft. Multiple nations are involved in design and manufacturing of components. The JSF is jointly funded by the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, The Netherlands, Canada, Norway, Denmark, Australia and Turkey (does that answer your question Egfrow?). Lockheed is NOT selling an American plane to the People Republic of anything. Lockheed was awarded the contract to build this plane for these NATO allies funded by those Nato Allies. The F-35 outperforms the F-16 in it’s roles and the A-10 in it’s roles, an amazing feat to say the least. This will be a plane that will be in the service of the US navy, air force, marine corps and the United Kingdom along with the rest of the Nato allies listed, a single aircraft has never had so many different roles. To say the F-35 isn’t a great fighter is myopic at best, I won’t say what it is at worst.
December 20th, 2007 at 9:41 amDan
December 20th, 2007 at 12:35 pmDoubt they just mothball the A10…it’s got another 20 years left in her per this article.
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/08/29/216249/us-air-force-may-extend-fairchild-a-10-life-beyond-2028.html
@Jay:
I was under the same impression, that’s why I made the comment. Frankly, I’d shitcan the F-35 in favor of the F-22 and more bombers. I wish the AF would focus in on the war a little more. Right now we need bombs and bullets. Better bombs, and more of them. We need more bombers to support the warfighter on the ground.
If I was an FO on the ground I’d much rather have an A-10 respond to a danger close mission than an F-35.
I don’t mind opening up new technology vistas. I just think that the services spend too much money on toys and too little money on the tools we need right now to fight this war.
Give me MRAP II’s, a better M-16 round, more armor-piercing ammo, more sniper rifles, more COIN training, more M-1’s, more personnel, more helicopters, more replacement parts.
Replace Guard losses and build them back up to what they were back at home station. More money for recruiting…more bonuses, more EOD people, more Engineer vehicles more and better IED detection equipment. More money for training. Finish BRAC.
Give me their fucking budget and I’ll show you a better way.
December 20th, 2007 at 3:23 pmBecause ALL of my priority items would be warfighter first, and future shit last.
Dan,
December 20th, 2007 at 6:49 pmWith all due respect. The future shit is what keeps our war fighters FIRST.
“Proud to say “I am helping bring this aircraft to our Forces!”
Hey Jay, Are you directly involved in bringing the JSF to our forces? Lockheed Martin Fort Worth employee? Just curious, that’s where I live, many of my friends work there.
December 20th, 2007 at 6:55 pm