F-35-Lightning II: Composites on Trial Part III
Tue, Jul 21, 2009
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F-35A Joint Fighter / Elgin AFB, April, 2009
Photo – Senior Airman, Julianne Showalter USAF / Wikimedia
The F-35 Lightning II will be a test bed for the significant use of composite parts in next generation jet fighters, particularly with fuselage components. Understandably, security concerns will prevent detailed disclosure of F-35 design and assembly, but what we do know about composites and the Joint Strike Fighter program is still well worth considering.
The Joint Strike Fighter and Composites -
The Joint Strike Fighter now in advanced stages of development in the United States represents a huge investment of money, prestige and commitment to a new jet fighter design. Multiple role and all weather, three variants of the F-35 including a VTOL fighter for the Marine Corps are intended to replace several current and highly proven USAF jet fighters when they reach the end of their useful lifetimes. Deployment of the F-35 with multiple capabilities would in theory save a great deal of money. In practice, with program costs now at the trillion dollar level, the world watches and wonders.
Aside from costs, serious criticism has been leveled at the design of the F-35, which makes significant use of composite materials. As a military program that embodies next generation stealth, design and weapons technologies, much information about the F-35 is not accessible by the public or aviation industry journalists.
Lockheed Martin F-35B VTOL / Rollout Ceremony, Dec 18, 2007
Photo – Air Attack
In September 2006, Denmark-based Terma A/S joined the Joint Strike Fighter Program to supply several composite parts. Cutting edge CAD software from an American partner integrates with laser projection technology, whose data files generated from 3D part models are then projected upon a lay-up tool.
Lockheed Martin F-35B VTOL – Center Fuselage
Photo – Northrup Grumman / Air Attack
In early March, 2009, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) delivered its first composite parts for the F-35 from a new facility that opened in November, 2008 with two dozen key employees trained by Northrup Grumman. These composite parts are panels that form the outer surface of the fuselage and they will be integrated into the first two production F-35s. TAI is scheduled to produce 400 center fuselage sections for the first production Joint Strike Fighters. Even with restricted information, the importance of composites to the F-35 design is clear. These carbon-resin parts will be rigorously evaluated for long term strength and durability. In many ways, future military aircraft will build on the Joint Strike Fighter Program legacy and incorporate composite parts to the maximum extent possible.
Assembly of the First Production F-35 at Lockheed Martin, Forth Worth Texas
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“The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else.”
July 22nd, 2009 at 3:25 pm
Lightning, sir, it’s Lightning. Like the bright stuff which comes before thunder.
Lightening is all about losing weight. Ironically, one of the reasons for using composites in the first place.