F-35 Lightning II News

August 15, 2007 (by Eric L. Palmer) - Northrop Grumman Corporation has delivered to Lockheed Martin, the initial release of software required to perform manufacturing checkout of the first F-35B short take-off vertical landing (STOVL) variant.
The company has delivered updated software modules used to perform three critical functions:

• Functional test of key sensor subsystems such as radar, electronic warfare, and communication/navigation/IFF.


• Download of maintenance information from the aircraft.


• In-flight detection and pilot notification of safety-critical faults.

"The delivery of this initial manufacturing release (IMR) of software for the first F-35 STOVL aircraft continues Northrop Grumman's unbroken, two-year-long streak of on-time software deliveries to the F-35 Lighting II program," said Janis Pamiljans, F-35 program manager for Northrop Grumman's Integrated Systems sector. "We're doing everything we can to support the F-35 industry team's goal of flying the first STOVL variant in the spring of 2008."

The software delivered to Lockheed Martin includes:

• Prognostic and Health Monitoring software, which is used to check out the built-in-test features of the sensor hardware and verify that the hardware is operating properly.


• Maintenance Interface Broker software, which is used by maintenance personnel to download diagnostic information from the aircraft.


• Mission Domain software, which includes navigation related software; software models for aircraft performance; and the Mission Systems Integrity Monitor, safety-critical software that detects, filters and notifies the pilot of critical in-flight failures.

The initial manufacturing release of software is the second in a five-step F-35 software release process leading to first flight. Between now and spring 2008, Northrop Grumman plans to deliver three more rounds of software updates for the STOVL software modules listed above.

• Ground test release, which will be used during initial power-up and taxi tests of the F-35B.


• Flight candidate release, which provides the core of software used during initial flight.


• Flight test update, which provides any updates or additional software capabilities required for flight testing.

As a principal member of the Lockheed Martin-led F-35 global industry team, Northrop Grumman plays a critical role in the development and production of the aircraft.