03 Mar 2010, 05:57
SpudmanWP said "What would be involved in making a LRIP F-35 a SDD F-35 and then to an ITO&E F-35?"
An SDD airplane requires much redesign of an LRIP airplane to accomodate the sensors, wiring, and data system. Sensors (thousands) require space, access, bracketry, etc. Wiring requires routing holes, bracketry, etc. Special routing holes usually require local beef-up to maintain structural strength. The data system (sensor power supplies, signal conditioning, recording equipment, telemetering equipment) usually displaces some production equipment, requires power and control cabeling, bracketry, etc. For example, the F-16 data package replaced the ammo drum and gun. All these mods must be made to an LRIP airplane before it could perform SDD missions.
Then, to convert and SDD airplane to IOT&E, the data package would have to be removed so the displaced production equipment could be reinstalled. It would probably not be necessary to remove the sensors and wiring, but the extra weight would impact airplane performance.
Last edited by
johnwill on 03 Mar 2010, 06:15, edited 1 time in total.