Smiths flight display, weapons control systems for F-35

Smiths Aerospace has been selected by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics to supply the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter standby flight display system and additional weapons control systems. The combined value is potentially in excess of $450 million over the life of the programme. Delivery of the systems will commence over the next year and are designed and manufactured in Cheltenham and New Addlngton in the UK and Michigan and Florida in the US

The standby display system independently displays attitude, altitude, airspeed, vertical velocity and angle of attack. The display system is centrally located in the cockpit front panel and incorporates fully agile performance.

The fuselage remote interface units will provide the interface between the avionics and all weapon stations. The units supply the distribution of GPS signals to weapons, as well as performing the weapons arming, release and emergency jettison functions. The missile remote interface units adapt the industry standard weapons interface to unique missile interface types. The pylon remote interface units adapt the industry standard weapons interface to legacy weapon interface types. The bomb rack power module supplied is a high-pressure pneumatic manifold and bottle storage device helping to manage the pneumatic discharge system of the weapons delivery. A pneumatic reversible, in-flight locking actuator is also included.

This extends the range of contracts on the F-35 that Smiths have already secured and are valued in excess of $10 billion over the lifetime of the aircraft.

In addition to the latest order, F-35 systems from Smiths now include:

• Engine and lift fan debris monitoring system

• All of the rigid tubes and flexible hoses for the hydraulic and lubrication systems of the F-35 LiftFanTM. The LiftFanTM is used exclusively on the short-takeoff/vertical-landing (STOVL) variant of the F-35. This, combined with a vectoring rear engine nozzle, produces the lifting force necessary for short takeoffs, vertical landings and hovering.

• The integrated canopy frame assembly, being manufactured for all variants of the F-35 programme.

• Actuation systems and components for the propulsion system and airframe, which include the 3 bearing swivel duct actuation system at the rear of the aircraft and the variable area nozzle and inlet guide vanes, which control airflow through the forward lift fan on the short-takeoff/vertical landing F-35. (New Jersey, Indiana, Washington and Wolverhampton UK)

• Electrical Power Management System: The electrical power management system will provide the primary and secondary electrical distribution and control arid backup battery capability throughout the aircraft.

• Engine Rings: The exhaust containment ring for the F-35 provides the interface of the power plant to exhaust nozzle and the sync rings control flap and seal actuation for the afterburn.

• Ten remote input/output units per aircraft provide the primary analogue to digital conversion of the sensor and effector interfaces to the vehicle sub-systems. The units also transmit and receive data and commands to the vehicle management computers via multiple high-speed serial data busses.

The F-35 market consists of 2,593 aircraft for the US Air Force, US Navy, US Marine Corns, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. Up to an additional 3,000 aircraft are expected to be sold for export. Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) will begin in 2006 followed by full-rate production of the aircraft beginning in 2012, continuing through until 2026.

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