17 Apr 2018, 09:14
17 Apr 2018, 10:14
KANFIT Chaff Flare Israel Defense Directory 2015_16 PRN.pdf17 Apr 2018, 21:44
popcorn wrote:What about a scenario, rare as it's likely to occur, where for some reason a F-35 engages a bad guy WVR and chaff allows an extra measure of protection vs. RF missiles?
17 Apr 2018, 22:39
popcorn wrote:What about a scenario, rare as it's likely to occur, where for some reason a F-35 engages a bad guy WVR and chaff allows an extra measure of protection vs. RF missiles?
14 Aug 2018, 19:08
F-35 Gets Computer-Enabled Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance
Later this year, the Air Force will fly an F-35 equipped with an existing technology now in F-16s called Air-Ground Collision Avoidance System, or AGCAS.
The system is slated to be fully operational on an F-35A as early as summer, 2019, service officials said.
...
In a concurrent but longer-term effort, the Air Force is now also working to develop algorithms to stop air-to-air collisions. This technology, developers explain, is much more difficult than thwarting air-to-ground collisions because is involves two fast-moving aircraft, rather one aircraft and the ground.
21 Sep 2018, 12:27
F-35 AGCAS: Flying Itself out of Harm’s Way
04 Sep 2018 Nick Zazulia
"“It takes three years to build a fighter jet; it takes 26 years to build a fighter pilot. I can give you the price of an F-35, but … You can't put a price on your sons and daughters," said Lockheed Martin experimental test pilot Billie Flynn.
Flynn worked on one of the upcoming advancements for the F-35: an automatic ground-collision avoidance system (AGCAS). Currently on the F-16, for which Flynn also worked on it, the system does pretty much what its name says: automatically avoids the ground when necessary. To date, it has saved the lives of eight pilots (but only seven jets).
More specifically, the AGCAS uses GPS, terrain data and spatial awareness to recognize when the jet is heading toward the ground or a mountain, and if it gets to the specifically calibrated point at which it is likely too late for a pilot to react to that fact, the system intervenes and pulls the jet up on its own before returning control to the pilot....
...Flynn is now helping move the system from the F-16 to the F-35 five years ahead of schedule, for 2019 instead of 2024. And he says the applicability doesn’t stop there....
...One of the things that has expedited AGCAS’s move from the F-16 to the F-35 so much is the high quality of F-35 simulators, according to Flynn. But that doesn’t mean no actual testing is required. And that’s a tough prospect because you don’t want to send pilots spiraling at the ground in a fighter jet too often hoping the jet pulls them out. The solution is to trick the system.
Normally, the AGCAS activates at 2,300 feet. For testing, Lockheed adds 10,000 more to that floor, so the F-35 thinks it is close to the ground when it gets to 12,300 feet and pulls up. That way, testers can make sure it recognizes altitude and reacts appropriately without putting a test pilot in a situation where the AGCAS is the only thing preventing him from crashing.
Beyond the delicate balance between safety and not wresting control away from a pilot unnecessarily, another concern is electronic warfare. If a system can take over piloting the plane, is it exposing the jet to danger from hacking? Not according to Flynn.
“That has never been an issue with this system,” Flynn said. “The way we've always worked is, it defaults off. So, it's never going to fly you up. … Instead of someone taking control of an auto-driving car, we just return the control to the driver is the equivalent analogy.”
A so-called “nuisance fly-up” is a problem with the system that pulls the aircraft up unexpectedly. “We have spent years stripping out the potential of any nuisance issues with the flight controls and how the aircraft behaves,” Flynn said, confident that there will be no surprises when flying alone. “We are remarkably confident that we aren't going to have anything surprise us when we fly alone.”
Lockheed still needs to do live testing with the AGCAS in the F-35 before implementation. Flynn is confident, though. And once that is completed, the process is quick. “Once we're happy, it goes into all the jets as fast as possible. It's a software drop. It’s like updating your iOS."
Source: https://www.aviationtoday.com/2018/09/04/f-35-agcas/
02 Oct 2018, 23:17
F-35 upgrade plan awaiting approval from top Pentagon acquisition exec
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon’s acquisition executive is set to weigh in on the F-35’s modernization plan in the coming weeks, the F-35 program executive officer said Oct 1.
An update of the F-35’s acquisition strategy, which spells out the F-35’s Block 4 modernization plan and describes the agile software approach that the department intends to use to incrementally upgrade the jet, is sitting on the desk of Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Ellen Lord, Vice Adm. Mat Winter told reporters during a roundtable.
Winter characterized the document as going through the “final administrative engagements with her staff and the [Office of the Secretary of Defense] staff,” with Lord’s approval expected “within the next couple weeks,” he said.
The Navy and Air Force acquisition executives — James Geurts and Will Roper, respectively — have already approved the plan.
Although Winter did not provide details on the revised strategy, it is anticipated to contain new cost estimates for Block 4 modernization driven by the new agile software approach, which the F-35 joint program office terms Continuous Capability Development and Delivery or C2D2.
...
The program office has laid out a total of 53 capabilities to be included in Block 4, which range from updated software to a suite of new weapons like the Small Diameter Bomb II.
...
The first Block 4 capabilities are set to be delivered in April, Winter said, but about 22 modifications will require the F-35 to undergo a set of computing system upgrades called Tech Refresh 3. Those “TR 3” modifications include a new integrated core processor, memory system and panoramic cockpit display.
25 Oct 2018, 22:28
By Courtney Albon
October 25, 2018 at 9:10 AM
The Pentagon has approved an update to the F-35 Block 4 acquisition strategy nearly a year later than the joint program office anticipated, but officials do not plan to release cost and schedule details, citing proprietary concerns. Defense Department spokesman Lt. Col. Mike Andrews told Inside Defense DOD acquisition chief Ellen Lord approved the new strategy Oct. 16 "after extensive deliberations within the department which helped shape this new strategy." The updated strategy includes a new cost and schedule...
Andrews noted the program is expecting an independent cost estimate to be completed this fall.
25 Oct 2018, 23:57
26 Oct 2018, 00:51
and panoramic cockpit display
26 Oct 2018, 04:27
26 Oct 2018, 09:32
06 Nov 2018, 17:13
Lockheed Martin is being awarded with a contract modification in support of the F-35 Block 4 pre-modernization Phase II effort. Priced at $130.4 million the modification external link provides for requirements decomposition and design work that sees for the maturation of the aircraft’s weapon capabilities. Block 4 is part of the F-35 JPO’s Continuous Capability Development and Delivery or C2D2 external link effort that seeks to keep the fighter jet relevant against emerging, dynamic threats by quickly fielding incremental updates to the jet’s software, much like regularly updating one’s smartphone. The Block 4 update program will allow the aircraft to finally meet its full contractual specifications. The whole Block 4 update program is expected to cost $10.8 billion through FY2024. The contract combines purchases for the Air Force ($17.4 million), the Navy ($14.2 million), Marine Corps ($14.2 million) and for relevant international partners ($84.3 million). Work will be performed at Lockheed’s facility in Fort Worth, Texas and is expected to be completed in March 2020.
06 Nov 2018, 18:10
Contracts for Nov. 2, 2018 NAVY Release No: CR-212-18
"Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aerospace Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $130,359,625 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive fee contract (N00019-18-C-1004) in support of the F35 Block 4 Pre-modernization Phase II effort. This modification provides for pre-modernization requirements decomposition and design work for Block 4.1 Partner participant weapon capabilities for maturation to an air system requirements review level of maturity. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in March 2020. Fiscal 2018 research, development, test and evaluation (Air Force, Navy); and non-U.S. Department of Defense (non-U.S. DoD) participant funding in the amount of $90,505,737 will be obligated at time of award, $13,262,261 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This modification combines purchases for the Air Force ($17,557,293; 13.5 percent); Navy ($14,223,730; 10.9 percent); Marine Corps ($14,223,730; 10.9 percent); and the non-U.S. DOD participants ($84,354,872; 64.7 percent). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity."
Source: https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/ ... e/1680751/
06 Nov 2018, 19:02
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 5 guests
