>> EQUIPMENT / LIGHTNING II
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This aircraft has stealth characteristics built in... has a wonderful range, large internal fuel load and a powerful array of sensors to give the pilot complete situational awareness...
the first batch of production aircraft as this programme gathers pace.”
Team Requirements Manager Wing Commander Willy Hackett said at the event: “This aircraft has stealth characteristics built in so we can take it into harm’s way. It has a wonderful range, large internal fuel load and a powerful array of sensors to give the pilot complete situational awareness.”
Wing Commander Hackett added that as well as stealth, the Lightning II would have the world’s most advanced radar, an advanced targeting system, 360 degree camera surveillance and full network enabled surveillance and intelligence gathering capabilities. Wing Commander Hackett added the Lightning II would also introduce voice activation of sensors and weapons by the pilot and a ‘look and shoot’ helmet alongside surveillance – intelligence and communications facilities so powerful that the aircraft would be able to fulfil wholly new mission types.
It will introduce new capabilities to the UK’s Armed Forces, including suppression of enemy air defences, close air support to troops in the worst weather at night, offensive counter air (where stealth would enable the aircraft to penetrate hostile airspace unescorted) and defensive counter air – a capability for the RAF and Royal Navy that is many times more effective than that provided in the past.
Onboard the Queen Elizabeth aircraft carriers, the aircraft would take off at its maximum weight of nearly 27 tonnes using a UK-developed ski-jump, and land either vertically or using the novel UK-developed Short Rolling Vertical Landing (SRVL) technique. This would enable the jet to land at a much higher weight than is possible in a purely vertical landing.
Wing Commander Hackett explained: “SRVL is under development for the carriers, but it means the aircraft would fly in at around 60 to 70 mph and then brake to a stop on the deck, without the need for any costly arrester
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gear. It will be able to land up to 1.8 tonnes heavier than would otherwise be possible, meaning unexpended weapons can be brought back to the ship.” Had the UK government decided to purchase the conventional landing and take-off Lightning II, the carriers would have required the fitting of complex and expensive arrester equipment. This would have delayed the programme by at least three years and would have greatly increased the cost of each vessel.
Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir David Richards, said: “Our armed forces have a successful history of operating short take-off and vertical landing aircraft and our pilots are already flying trials in this variant of the Joint Strike Fighter alongside our US allies.” The UK will benefit from full interoperability with the US Marine Corps and the Italian Navy, both of which operate the STOVL aircraft.
UK’s vital production role
The UK was the first of eight international partners to join the F-35 programme which Lockheed Martin is developing with principal industrial partners Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems. BAES have a solid background from the Harrier capabilities, including short takeoff and vertical landing experience. Their investment in advanced lean manufacturing, flight testing and air systems will all benefit the programme. The company is responsible for the F-35’s aft fuselage, fuel system, crew escape and life support systems. These are currently in-build in Britain and the UK will play a vital role in global production and follow-on development over the next 40 years.
Lightning II will become a mainstay of future air combat forces while the three distinct variants of the F-35 will replace the A-10 and F-16 for the US Air Force, the F/A-18 for the US Navy, the F/A-18 and AV8-B Harrier for the US Marine Corps. It is also likely to replace fighters for at least 10 other countries. n
globaldefencemedia.com | winter 2012_13
Lightning II will be operated from the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers from 2018.
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