Moderadores: Lepanto, poliorcetes, Edu, Orel
09 July 2012 - 6:00 by Andrew White in Washington, DC
Lockheed Martin has outlined a three-point upgrade plan for the F-35 Lightning II helmet-mounted display system (HMDS) ahead of a proposed critical design review (CDR) scheduled towards the end of the year, company officials have said.
According to Steve O'Bryan, VP for F-35 programme integration at Lockheed Martin, a CDR will be conducted on both the Vision Systems International (VSI) and BAE Systems HMDS solutions. A final downselect of helmet for the programme will be made at a later date, he added.
'We are confident that we can deliver requirements to the warfighter. But until we do that, we will continue on a dual-path strategy with VSI and BAE Systems,' O'Bryan explained. 'Once Lockheed Martin, the Joint Strike Fighter Program Office and governments feel requirements have been met, then we'll make a decision.'
In October, BAE Systems was awarded a contract to deliver an HMDS for the programme for use with detachable night vision goggles.
O'Bryan announced a three-point plan which is scheduled to be implemented over the next few months. This will comprise 'small tweaks in technology' to remedy latency issues; the addition of micro-IMUs to stabilise imagery for the pilot; and integration of a night vision, near-IR cameras to be mounted in the nose of the aircraft.
'Latency is the difference between reality and the IR world. How do they line up and what's the delay required? How perfect does it have to be in milliseconds?' O'Bryan asked.
Referring to stabilisation issues, O'Bryan said micro-IMUs were already undergoing tests in the laboratory and would begin flying in the next couple of months where Lockheed Martin will then process flight test results and pilot feedback.
In addition, he said the near-IR camera, based on US Army-based technology, would also generate test results over the next few months. 'Night acuity comprises the DAS system working at night and providing the ability to have focus or acuity to land on a ship, lights out, at night,' O'Bryan said.
To date, all of the F-35's 2,000-plus test flights have been conducted with the VSI HMDS including night flights and night refuelling, O'Bryan described. However, the system has come under criticism for lack of acuity, latency and 'jitters'.
One Lockheed Martin test pilot associated with the pilot described the VSI helmet as 'outstanding' but conceded that it wasn't perfect, saying issues with jitters had to be resolved.
Meanwhile, O'Bryan dubbed the BAE Systems HMDS as a 'legacy-based, lower technology' solution which was brought in to provide risk reduction in order to meet programme requirements should the VSI HMDS fail to deliver. BAE Systems' HMDS has yet to be flown on F-35, he added. VSI comprises a joint venture between Rockwell Collins and Elbit Systems.
July 10, 2012, 10:24 a.m. EDT
Lockheed Martin F-35 Flight Test Progress Report
FORT WORTH, Texas, July 10, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Lockheed Martin's LMT +0.32% F-35 program accrued the highest number of test points in a single month during June, an accomplishment indicative of the program's ongoing maturation. Additionally, for the 18th consecutive month the F-35 test program remained ahead of plan.
As of June 30, the F-35 Lightning II 5th Generation multirole fighter had conducted 595 test flights in 2012 versus a plan of 445 and accrued 4,830 test points against a plan of 3,901.
In June, the F-35 program accomplished several flight test and production milestones:
During June, the F-35 test program accrued the most test points in a single month, 1,118, in program history.
On June 5, BF-5 became the first F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) jet to fly with Block 2A software.
On June 13, the first F-35C carrier variant (CV) night flight was completed at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md.
On June 13, F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) weapons pit drop testing was conducted for the first time at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
On June 14 at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., BF-2 completed the first test flight for the F-35B STOVL variant with an asymmetric weapons load.
On June 25, AF-1, an F-35A CTOL test jet, accomplished the first F-35 weapon pit drop from an external station, a GBU-12 from station 2.
On June 27, the program achieved the highest number of F-35 flights in a single day, 12.
Cumulative flight test activity totals for 2012 through June 30 are provided below:
F-35A CTOL jets have flown 260 times.
F-35B STOVL jets have completed 202 flights, 134 of which began with a short takeoff. Additionally, F-35B STOVL aircraft have conducted 55 vertical landings.
F-35C CV jets have flown 133 times.
Cumulative flight test activity totals for the duration of the program through May 31 are provided below:
F-35A CTOL jets have flown 907 times.
F-35B STOVL jets have completed 791 flights, 553 of which began with a short takeoff. Additionally, F-35B STOVL aircraft have conducted 334 vertical landings.
F-35C CV jets have flown 325 times.
Since December 2006, F-35s have flown 2,355 times and accrued more than 3,700 cumulative flight hours. This total includes 91 flights from the original test aircraft, AA-1; 2,023 SDD test flights; and 241 production-model flights.
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On display at stand # C26 in Hall 2 is the F-35 Multi Mission Pod built using the very latest composite technology for extra strength and light weight
14:13 GMT, July 10, 2012 Farnborough Airshow | On display at the Terma stand C26 in Hall 2 is the F-35 Multi Mission Pod built using the very latest composite technology for extra strength and light weight. The pod is designed for versions of the F-35 with requirements for external stores.
In 2004, Terma won the contract to design, develop, qualify, and produce F-35 Gun Pods for the F-35B and F-35C in partnership with General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, a business unit of General Dynamics.
The F-35 Pod is a full monocoque composite structure in carbon fiber. It passed engineering test and qualification and has flown on the F-35 in February 2012 and is currently in the LRIP production phase.
The F-35 Pod Enclosure will provide real estate on the F-35, which can be used to expand the F-35 Special Mission functionality, by allowing the F-35 to fly Next Generation EW and ISR systems, such as Jammers and EO sensors.
Terma is deeply involved in the design and production of a large variety of structural and avionics components for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter.
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Marine Lt. Col. David Berke, commanding officer for the Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, taxis in from completing the 100th F-35 Lightning II sortie at the 33rd Fighter Wing, Eglin AFB, Fla. July 11. The 33rd FW’s 100 flights completed include 74 F-35A sorties and F-35B sorties. Current flying operations at the wing consist of Marine and Air Force fighter pilots checking out in the F-35 variants for each service. (U.S. Air Force photo/Maj. Karen Roganov)
The 17th Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning to be delivered at Eglin Air Force Base arrived Tuesday morning, and it’s the first one destined to be flown by the combat pilots of a foreign nation. / Special to the News Journal
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