Boeing rolls out JSF demonstrators

Sea Power, Feb 2000 by Burgess, Richard R

One of the two competing Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) designs took a step closer to its first flight when Boeing rolled out its X-32 JSF concept demonstration aircraft (CDA) at the company's plant in Palmdale, Calif.

An estimated 5,500 employees of Boeing and its suppliers and customers witnessed the rollout of both the X-32A-which will demonstrate the conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) version of the JSF planned for the U.S. Navy (carrier-based) and U.S. Air Force-and the X-32B-the short takeoff/vertical landing version planned for the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.K. Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. Assembly of the X-32B began three months after assembly began on the X-32A.

"We have made lean design and manufacturing a reality on the JSF program," said Frank Statkus, Boeing vice president and JSF program manager. "Our One Team members have used innovation and dedication to demonstrate the benefits of being lean. Seeing is believing, and our customer has seen what we can do."

Flight testing of the X-32 is planned for Spring 2000. The Defense Department is expected to choose between the X-32 and the Lockheed Martin X35 in early 2001. The JSF is planned as a stealthy replacement for the Navy and Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet, the Marine Corps AV-813 Harrier 11, and the Air Force F-16 and A-10 aircraft.

In other developments related to the X-32 program:

Testing has been completed of the fuel system for the X-32. The fuel system-designed by engineers from Boeing, Flight Refueling Ltd., and BFGood rich-demonstrated the ability to fuel and defuel, transfer fuel between tanks, and provide fuel to the engine in a safe, leak-free manner, Boeing officials said.

Five months of testing of the Boeing JSF integrated avionics system has begun on board the company's Airborne Flying Laboratory (AFL), a modified Boeing 737-200 airliner. "We will save development time and costs because the AFL allows us to test more efficiently than with a fighter platform," said Dan Cossano, manager of Boeing JSF Mission Systems.

Pratt & Whitney has completed final assembly of the first of two JSF 119-614 flight-test engines for the X-32A. The company previously had built two developmental and two qualification engines for the Boeing JSF program, and had completed sea-level and altitude developmental testing on the CTOL variant of the engine.

Martin-Baker Aircraft Company has successfully completed qualification testing of its MkUS 1 6B ejection seat for the X-32. The dynamic testsconducted at the company's facility in Langford Lodge, Northern Irelandused a representative forebody of an X-32 under a full range of speeds to simulate emergency situations.

Raytheon to Develop

AESA Radar for Super Hornet Boeing has selected Raytheon to develop the Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) for the F/A18E/F Super Hornet strike fighter. The AESA will be built by Raytheon Electronic Systems in El Segundo, Calif.

The AESA will be designed to increase the Super Hornet's air-to-air target detection and tracking ranges and add higher-resolution air-toground mapping modes at longer ranges, enhancing the aircraft's ability to effectively target precision weapons. The AESA would replace the APG-73 radar currently installed in the Super Hornet.

The Navy expects to award a contract in early 2001 for engineering and manufacturing development of the AESA. Deliveries of the radar are expected to begin in 2004.

EB ContraCted To Modify SSN 23 For Special Ops

The Navy's plan to modify the third Seawolf-class nuclear-powered attack submarine for special operations was locked into gear with the award of an $887 million contract to the General Dynamics Electric Boat (EB) Company, EB will modify the Jimmy Cartercurrently under construction-to accommodate advanced technology for naval special warfare, tactical surveillance operations, and minewarfare missions.

EB officials said that the Seawolfclass design will be altered in the areas of ballast control, missionmanagement spaces, and other services. A "flexible ocean interface," referred to as a "wasp waist," will enable the submarine to deploy and recover mission payloads without the requirement to use torpedo tubes.

The changes in the design of the Jimmy Carter will result in slippage of the submarine's delivery date from December 2001 until June 2004. Navy officials said that the design changes will not sacrifice the submarine's warfighting capabilities as an attack submarine.

Defense Industry Notes

The DID 21 Alliance has been awarded a $238 million contract modification for Phase 11 of the DID 21 land-attack destroyer development program. The two competing alliance teams, headed by Bath Iron Works and Ingalls Shipbuilding, will develop initial systems designs and virtual prototypes of the DD 21. United Defense LP-which is developing the DD 21's Advanced Gun System (AGS)-will develop a proof-of-concept AGS. At the end of the 18-month Phase 11 the Navy will select one of the competing designs for the planned 32-ship construction program.