Joint Strike Fighter Program

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Boeing X-32 (left) and Lockheed Martin X-35 prior to down-select in 2001, where the X-35 was chosen. DoD photo

X-32B at Patuxent River Naval Air Museum; Both the X-32 and X-35 went to museums

The Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) became synomous with the later F-35 Lightning II, however until 2001 the term was applied to the competition between the Boeing X-32 and Lockheed Martin X-35. The JSF program was designed to replace the F-16, A-10, F/A-18 and AV-8B fleet of tactical fighter aircraft in U.S. military service.

1 Project formation
2 JSF Competition
3 Competition Outcome
4 References
5 External links
6 See also

[edit] Project formation

The JSF program was the result of the merger of the Common Affordable Lightweight Fighter (CALF) and Joint Advanced Strike Technology (JAST) projects.^[1] The merged project continued under the JAST name until the Engineering Manufacturing and Development (EMD) phase, during which the project became the Joint Strike Fighter.^[2]

The CALF was an ARPA program to develop a STOVL Strike Fighter (SSF) for the US Marine Corps and replacement for the F-16. The USAF passed over the F-16 Agile Falcon in the late 1980s, essentially an enlarged F-16, and continued to mull other designs. In 1992 the Marines and US Air Force agreed to jointly develop the Common Affordable Lightweight Fighter, also known as Advanced Short Takeoff and Vertical Landing (ASTOVL).

The Joint Advanced Strike Technology (JAST) program was created in 1993, implementing one of the recommendations of a United States Department of Defense (DoD) "Bottom-Up Review to include the US Navy in the Common Strike Fighter program." (The review also led the Pentagon to continue the F-22 and F/A-18E/F programs, cancel the Multi-Role Fighter (MRF) and the A/F-X programs, and curtail F-16 and F/A-18C/D procurement.) The JAST program office was established on 27 January 1994, to develop aircraft, weapons, and sensor technology with the aim of replacing several disparate U.S. and UK aircraft with a single family of aircraft (mainly it would replace F-16 in terms of numbers).

In November 1995 the UK signed a Memorandum of Understanding to become a formal partner, and agreed to pay $200 million or 10% of the concept demonstration phase.^[2]

[edit] JSF Competition

Two contracts to develop prototypes were awarded on November 16, 1996, one each to Lockheed Martin and Boeing. Each firm would produce two aircraft to demonstrate conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL), carrier takeoff and landing (CV version), and short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL). McDonnell Douglas' bid was rejected in part due to the complexity of its design.^[3] Lockheed Martin and Boeing were each given $750 million for the development of the concept demonstrators and definition of the Preferred Weapon System Concept (PWSC). The aim of this funding limit was to prevent one or both contractors bankrupting themselves in an effort to win such an important contract.^[1]

Also in 1996, the UK Ministry of Defence launched the Future Carrier Borne Aircraft project. This program sought a replacement for the Sea Harrier (and later the Harrier GR7); the Joint Strike Fighter was selected in January 2001.

[edit] Competition Outcome

Post competition JSF Logo, with F-35 winner

The contract for System Development and Demonstration (SDD) was awarded on 26 October 2001 to Lockheed Martin, whose X-35 beat the Boeing X-32. DoD officials and the UK Minister of Defence Procurement said the X-35 consistently outperformed the X-32, although both met or exceeded requirements. The development of the JSF will be jointly funded by the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, The Netherlands, Canada, Norway, Denmark, Australia and Turkey.

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b Nicholls, Mark. "JSF: The Ultimate Prize", Air Forces Monthly, Key Publishing, August 2000, pp. 32-38. Retrieved on December 24, 2006.
^ ^a ^b "U.S., U.K. sign JAST agreement", Aerospace Daily, McGraw-Hill, 1995-11-25, p. 451. Retrieved on December 24, 2006.
^ Fulghum, David, Morrocco, John. "Final JSF Competition Offers No Sure Bets", Aviation Week and Space Technology, McGraw-Hill, 1996-11-25, p. 20. Retrieved on December 23, 2006.