Lockheed F -35 JSF

Prospective multi-role fighter

03/03/2009 - Second Fighter F-35B "Lightning-2" version STOVL,

made its first flight

MOSCOW, March 3. In the company Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth on Feb. 25 made its first flight the second fifth-generation fighter F-35B "Lightning-2" versions of short takeoff and vertical landing STOVL (KVVP). The aircraft, designated BF-2, will join the tested version of the F-35A conventional takeoff and landing CTOL (AFP) and the first fighter F-35B STOVL, which together have already completed 84 flight. The first F-35B, were designated as BF-1, made its first flight June 11, 2008
The purpose of the flight took place, was to check the work of all on-board subsystems, including combat, and basic handling characteristics of a fighter. During the following tests will be conducted in stages, increasing the height and speed of flight.
Fighter will remain in Fort Worth over the next few months for a series of ground tests, equipment calibration and modeling of hovering. The initial flights, the aircraft will carry the usual way.
BF-2 is almost similar to the first aircraft BF-1. The main difference is mounted on board instrumentation, which focuses on a different flight test program aircraft. BF-2 will be used to study the flutter phenomenon (vibration of the aircraft), the behavior of the fighter at high angles of attack, engine test systems, air refueling, weapons systems and assess the level of radar visibility. BF-1 is designed for initial testing regimes takeoff and landing, including a short takeoff, hovering and vertical landing, and also check the compatibility of the aircraft with cannon armament. The first vertical landing, using a prototype of BF-1, scheduled for mid-2009
In January, Lockheed Martin has completed assembly of the first fully-equipped combat systems fighter F-35B "Lightning-2, which will be used to test the full package of avionics. The aircraft, designated BF-4, will feature developed at Northrop Grumman radar with active phased array with electronic scanning AN/APG-81, an integrated suite of communications, navigation and identification systems, electronic warfare systems company BAE Systems and Software version of the "block-0, 5.
Program F-35 JSF (Joint Strike Fighter) development since the end of 1996 at the same time the Pentagon is developing three versions of the F-35. Plane in variant AFP F-35A conventional runway ordered the U.S. Air Force. STOVL fighter variant F-35B, designed for action with the small runway in a combat zone and receive USMC. Option F-35C CV is based on aircraft carriers for the U.S. Navy. All three options are the most unified.
F-35B KVVP became the second version of the aircraft, which entered the stage of flight testing. First flew in F-35A version of the AFP. Fighter F-35C, which will be carried off from the deck of large aircraft carriers, the U.S. Navy with the help of a catapult and landing using the arresting gear, must make its first flight in 2009
According to plans, F-35B, will be the first of the three options, "Lightning-2, which will reach initial operational capability status. It is planned that the first machines will be accepted for service in the USMC in 2012 aircraft then this modification will also be delivered to Air Force and Navy of Great Britain and Italy.
F-35B is designed to replace the line fighter F/A-18 "Hornet" and the aircraft with a vertical / short takeoff and landing AV-8B "Harrier" aircraft and USMC Harrier "GR.7/GR.9 Royal Navy. Fighters in the version with the F-35B STOVL will be able to operate from the deck of aircraft carriers British standard airfields, as well as the small runway.
Lockheed Martin is prime contractor for the project and implement it in conjunction with Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems. " The latter is also the main contractor for construction of two Royal Navy aircraft carriers, which will be based on 138 F-35B.
A contract worth 2.4 billion dollars for the initial production of 12 aircraft and F-35, including 6 F-35 ORP and 6 STOVL company Lockheed Martin, received in July 2007 In August 2008, Lockheed Martin has received $ 1 billion to produce six F-35B fighter STOVL under the second contract for small production runs two LRIP (Low Rate Initial Production) of the F-35 Lightning 2.
Commission and the U.S. Navy's plan to adopt a 680 F-35B and F-35C. U.S. Air Force plan to buy 1,763 aircraft F-35A. Britain plans to buy for 150 Air Force and Navy F-35B.According to experts, taking into account the possible sale of F-35 to other customers, by 2027, the total number of produced aircraft could reach 4,500 units. or more. In these plans, however, can make the adjustment increases the cost of aircraft and the possible delay in their development.

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As the press service of the company Lockheed Martin, started the integration of complex avionics the F-35 on board a flying laboratory CATBird (Cooperative Avionics Test Bed) based on the Boeing 737. Test flights will begin in 2009, the cycle over several months. Only after this set of avionics to be installed on the F-35.

The first test flight with the elements of the F-35 avionics lab has made 25 November 2008.

Flight testing of the integrated avionics system (avionics), the F-35 began on a flying laboratory CATBird, the report says the U.S. company Lockheed Martin. Tests are held at the airbase Fort Worth. The purpose of safety - to work out integrated avionics fighter in the air before it is installed on F-35.

"Avionics fighter F-35 the most complex ever created systems for this class of aircraft. These tests allow us to significantly reduce the risk of creating a new airplane, which will be the F-35. The test for three years before the plane would enter service , we once again prove that the work on the aircraft is in strict accordance with the schedule, "- are reported to the General Director of the program F-35 Dan Crawley. Avionics fighter F-35 includes sensors to enable pilots to detect stationary and moving targets by day and night in any weather. First prototype F-35 equipped with a full avionics system will be the F-35B BF-4. Its first flight is scheduled for mid-2009 all previous prototypes were used to study the flight characteristics of aircraft.

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Serial F-35 in the form of horizontal takeoff and landing (CTOL) made ​​its first flight on Dec. 15, 2006 in Fort Worth, Texas, test pilot Jon Beesley. Originally scheduled to do so on December 11, but the flight was delayed due to bad weather.

The overall cost of the F-35 taking into account the price of development and production machines will be 276 billion dollars. Until 2027 is planned to produce at least 3,100 aircraft, of which 2,400 are intended for the U.S. and 138 for the UK. This will allow the F-35 to become the most popular aircraft in the world of the fifth generation.
 

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Contrary to the expectations of experts, the Pentagon is not going to cut funding for two major aircraft programs - the development of the F-35 JSF and production Airplanes F/A-22.Western Force re on the F-35 will lead to massive release of fighters on the market earlier generations, who will compete with Russian 'MiGam'.

Program to develop JSF fighter for the Air Force, Navy and Air Force U.S. Marine Corps and a number of U.S. allies is from 1996, and in 2001 won the competition prototype firm Lockheed Martin F-35. This aircraft is in contrast to the fourth-generation fighter F-16, MiG-29, Su-27 is adopted in the inner compartments, and has more advanced electronics and radar.

According to sources familiar with the proposals prepared by the Pentagon to the military budget - 2007, the Defense Ministry does not intend to abandon the development of specialized versions of the F-35 fighter for the Air Force and propose to extend the program for the production of the F-22 for two years, until 2010, both programs were considered by experts as the main objects of possible budget cuts required the Pentagon to improve the funding of the Iraq war ....

... I. Fr. Deputy Defense Minister Thomas England offered at all not to develop versions of the F-35 Air Force, but instead use a version of the aircraft was released for the Navy. Meanwhile, it is a " land " version of the aircraft head developer of the F-35 Lockheed Martin Corp.connects the main hope for the export of its fighters in the coming decades.

" Marine " F-35 Heavy their " land " brother, he is less maneuverability and, according to experts, is less attractive to potential customers.

Loren Thompson, an expert on the defense industry, citing Pentagon officials said that supporters of the termination of work on a " ground " F-35 could not prove that the implementation of their proposals will lead to significant budgetary savings. Each year, the U.S. Air Force and other participants in the program will get rid of a large number of F-16 early versions, which will compete primarily Russian " MiGam " , says an expert on aviation industry Alexei Zakharov. "As a result, four years later the Russian aircraft industry will face increased competition, primarily in Southeast Asia and the Middle East " , - said Zakharov. (The materials WSJ.)

http://www.avia.ru/press/2005/dec/5dec-2.shtml 
 

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The aircraft X -35:

First flight of prototype 24 October 2000

Rolled out the first production in 2006

Year, adopting a 2008

Wingspan:

       Conventional aircraft 10,0 m

       aircraft with a GDP of 9.1 m

Length 15,5 m

Wing Area 50.2 sq ft

Weight:

       Empty 10 886 kg

       Max takeoff 22,680 kg

Internal fuel 6803 kg

Turbojet engine type 1 Pratt & Whitney

                                                                                  F119-PW-100 (SE611)

Thrust 15,810 kgs

Maximum speed 1600 km / h ( M = 05.01)

Cruising speed subsonic

Combat radius of 1100 km

Crew 1 person.

Armament:

25-mm six-barrel gun.

Combat load - 5900-7700 kg. 

In stealth mode - 2 x 450-kg bombs and 2 SD-to-Air AIM-120C AMRAAM.

In overload - 2,900-pound bombs and 4 SD in 2 compartments of weapons.

DRAFT JSF AIRCRAFT COMPANY "Lockheed Martin"

Article IV of the book Kudishin

"U.S. fifth generation fighter."

Aircraft X-35 were created at the Texas plant firm Lockheed Martin. " They embody the less radical concept than a draft JSF «Boeing developed by experienced American" Fighter "by the company in collaboration with the British corporation BAE. This fact is reflected in the appearance of the aircraft, which looks much more "classicality" than its competitor.

X-35 is a direct descendant of projects CALF ASTOVL and early 1990's. - Is primarily a fighter, not the strike aircraft, and fighter with the originally projected SUVVP function.Development team to task: first, to demonstrate the capabilities SUVVP with lift fan, mechanically reducible from the engine, and secondly, to achieve the highest possible degree of generality SUVVP and two variants with a horizontal takeoff and landing.
The most difficult to implement, in the opinion of experts of firm Lockheed Martin, are the requirements for the implementation of vertical landing approach at a speed above 200 km / h with a sharp deceleration and then touch the deck, moving on a rampage with a vertical speed of 3 m / sec. To create a vertical thrust, it was decided to use is located in the bow, behind the cab, a fan with a vertical axis, driven by the long shaft of the lift-cruise engine (PMD), located in the rear, combined with swiveling nozzle of the latter. Airbag cold air from the fan in the forward fuselage prevents absorption of the hot exhaust from the engine air intakes. Cold air from the compressor PMD shown in UVVP modes in a system of jet control. As a result, the system receives a significant advantage over applied at Boeing, in particular the less influence of the jet on the screen surface, the higher the overall efficiency and to optimize the aircraft to supersonic speeds. Lifting the fan doubles the air flow through the power plant by summing him power to 27,000 horsepower, while reducing the average temperature of the exhaust and reduce the rate of flowing streams, which becomes important at near-zero flight speeds. In the transition to horizontal flight lifting off the fan and the engine gets its normal configuration, optimized for supersonic flight, instead of a compromise scheme, adopted from Boeing. In addition, the engineers of Lockheed-Martin aircraft is not supposed to make a shortened, and vertical take-off.
However, the scheme with a lifting fan has a serious drawback in the Ammunition "dead weight" of two-stage fan, its channels, valves, razobschitelnoy couplings, drives, shaft and bearings, it is useless in horizontal flight. This mass is 1800 kg (1450 kg mass of PMD. - Comm. Aut.).
The plane with the horizontal start in place of aggregates fan arranged tanks for 2270 kg of fuel, thereby increasing their range to 370 km. In addition, these options set axisymmetric nozzle with reduced visibility settings. Carrier-based aircraft will have a combat radius of 1330 km, which is two times higher than the parameter plane F/A-18C.
Basic configuration of the fighter JSF firm Lockheed Martin has remained unchanged since the iteration 230-1, adopted in July 1997 in response to the publication of the first edition of the combined TTM. In response to the second edition of TTT aircraft thoroughly "grown" in size and mass, but with the advent of the final version of TTT, toughen requirements to the payload when you return to the carrier and to the characteristics during landing, as well as determined the ceiling price, size and mass of the newly had to be reduced, which took place in May 1999 in iteration 230-4.
One of the most noticeable changes was superficially to shorten the channel side air intakes at 0.76 m. The channel inlet of the tetrahedral became triangular in order to improve the performance of the propulsion system at high angles of attack.
This measure will also save some weight and a 1% increase the efficiency of the propulsion system by reducing the pressure losses at the inlet of the engine.
Starting with iteration 230-3 by the designer of Lockheed Martin, as well as Boeing, began with the provision of common variants in connection with the growing needs of the fleet to the deck option. It was decided to abandon exotic systems to increase aerodynamic lift at low speeds, such as boundary layer control system, and the desired characteristics approach to achieve maximum use of a simple aerodynamic configuration. Requirements of the fleet included the approach speed 252-263 km / h at an angle of attack of 11 deg. and landing weight of 18,570 kg. Designers aim was to achieve the lowest possible rate of approach so as to establish a ceiling of the landing weight and improve the roll characteristics. As a result, changes were implemented configuration front and rear edges of the wing of the aircraft carrier options, adding to the mechanization of the aileron and the increase in scale. Simultaneously, the area of ​​all surfaces of plumage has been increased. These changes have greatly reduced the percentage of generality of various options. If the land option and SUVVP have 81% coefficient of generality, any of these options has a deck aircraft, only 62% common parts. At the same handling characteristics have turned out similar only by 23%. But despite this, the average level of generality, all three options remained within 70-80%, which is much higher than if the option for the deck had to create a new wing.
In iteration 230-5 retractable D-shaped air intake lift fan gave way to fold, on the one hand, resulting in savings of 132 kg mass, while the other - to significantly improve system performance "fan-channel". Application of axisymmetric controlled rotary nozzle instead of a flat save another 182 kg of mass, combined with better characteristics of the propulsion system, increasing traction on the modes of GDP, the payload mass and moving aside the boundaries of failure.
These positive features of the axisymmetric nozzle allowed the pristavit back "part of the wing, previously trimmed to save weight. As a result SUVVP and land-based aircraft have a wing area of ​​42.7 m2 38.3 m2 instead of the span at 10.7 m. Wing area deck option increased from 55.7 to 57.6 m2 in the span of 13.1 m. In the folded overall size of the wing is reduced to 9.13 m. At this stage the Royal Navy withdrew prior to request the installation of a folding wing SUVVP.
In late 2000, the firm Lockheed Martin has completed the formation of the final image production aircraft - iteration 235, - is fully consistent with the final version of TTT. This iteration, in particular, provides relief to the aircraft structure at 227 kg, in order to bring a lot of weapons in return for an aircraft carrier in line with the TTM. Relief is achieved, in particular, due to design wings gruzootsekov and niches chassis. Canopy will besperepletnym, strong construction, designed to to withstand a collision with a bird weighing 2.27 kg.
The main work to alleviate the design does not affect the external configuration of the aircraft. It deals with such design elements as actuators, electric generator, etc. A large mass was saved by ennobling forms of force design elements, as well as to clarify the requirements for the nodes and components, all supplied by subcontractors. The latter factor is also positively affects the cost of the aircraft. As a result, aircraft X-35 is only slightly differ from the production aircraft size and weight. Firm Lockheed Martin has found it possible to implement the principle of "the plane will fly before you buy it, primarily to prove and show that the new product in reality is capable of that for which it was created, empirically confirming the results of computer simulation and calculation . For example, the U.S. Navy is not inclined to trust the theoretical argument and prefer to see the new aircraft "live". To this end, prototypes, demonstrators set up in compliance with not only all the characteristics, but nearly all the physical dimensions of production aircraft.In particular, the plane - ground-based demonstrator will be able to make steady turns at a speed of 740 km / h and trans-6 g (for production aircraft at the same speed overload is 6,2 g), range with expenditure of 1 pound of fuel makes for a prototype 0 , 22 km, and for production aircraft - 0,25 km, the acceleration time from M = 0.8 to M = 1.2 at an altitude of 13,630 meters is for both versions of 41s.
The first demonstrator aircraft with horizontal takeoff and landing after working test program will be modified in SUVVP, which would soar 204 meters from the takeoff and land vertically at a mass 16 070 kg, which is only 550 kg less than the maximum possible weight for hovering for serial aircraft. The second aircraft demonstrator, the X-35C will have to demonstrate the feasibility of approach angle of attack up to 11,2 ° in the range of speeds from 252 to 263 km / h, according to the requirements of the U.S. Navy.
The entire program of flight tests of aircraft - the demonstrators are an integral part of the program to reduce technical risk, provided the latest edition of the combined TTT and mandatory for execution until the introduction of aircraft into production. In the course of research were identified 17 sites with maximum development of technical risk, from which the system is a lifting rod for SUVVP is the most risky.
Another site works with a high degree of risk is the development of sensors for aircraft, as well as the production system of combat and tactical information from external sources. To work on this subject in February 2000 involved the LL created based on the aircraft YOU 111 firm Northrop Grumman. At the LL, in particular, worked through a complex interaction of airborne aircraft in an environment as close to reality, ie mode, which can not be simulated in the laboratory.
In particular, the AESA radar is the LL set of synthetic aperture mode and conduct electronic warfare, represents a new generation of radar with a fully electronically scanned and thus differs relatively low cost. It was assumed that half the AESA will be easier and cheaper radar with comparable features and mechanical scanning. In addition, the architecture of the complex has on-board infrared sensors distributed aperture, developed jointly by Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, and an integrated helmet-mounted display - Sight firm Kayzep "/ VS L .
The main novelty, applied in the design of radar, transceiver elements are gallium arsenide having a wider frequency range when used in electronic warfare. The main technological problem was the automation of production of these elements in order to reduce their cost.
At a plant in Fort Worth firm Lockheed-Martin built a bench for testing the integration of the sensor system. The main element of the stand is a model of the aircraft JSF life-size, located on the top of the 12-meter column. Layout can be turned at different angles to the horizontal. He installed a full set of sensors attached to a commercial computer system, data processing, the results of which are given to displays located in a separate simulator cockpit. The stand is used to test the individual subsystems and to test the overall integration of all systems. During production on this stand will work out all of the new system solutions to their implementation on a real airplane.
In the JSF program, the firm Lockheed Martin has also used two summers stand - F-16 aircraft and S-3, which worked through taping of radio-absorbing polymer film ZM, instead of painting.Using this "wallpaper" of technology life-cycle aircraft will save over 300 kg of paint.
Among the new developments introduced by the company, Lockheed-Martin on the new plane is elektrogidrostaticheskie drives, powered from the electrical system. As a result, there is no need for a centralized hydraulic system and actuators are driven by an electric control signal. To test these drives, as well as for testing predictive monitoring the technical condition of the aircraft used by the LL F -16 AFTI .
On the F-16 design was worked out as unregulated inlet at speeds up to Mach number M = 2.In the channel intake LL instead driven cutter boundary layer at the inlet of the engine was installed stationary design, modeled on a computer and intended for the same purpose. Duct JSF is formed from KM zatselo without fasteners.
By the airframe mounted intake channel with flanges, "implanted" in its design. If the channel intake produced by already-developed technology used on the aircraft the F-22 or F/A-18, in its present design would be more than 22 000 units of various fasteners. For comparison: in the fifth-generation fighter prototype YF-23 system is the cutoff boundary layer consisted of 500 items!
In contrast to Boeing, Lockheed-Martin does not pose a problem to develop technology for mass production of advanced aircraft. Instead, design engineers tend to simplify the design of the aircraft.
According to engineers, community structures of three variants of the aircraft is to apply to all three of the same assembly process, which is especially important for deck option, which has the lowest coefficient of unity with the other two. In particular, the deck will be installed version of the more powerful frames: in the cabin, on the ground, liberated from the lift fan, a deck option provides a powerful force frame to take a significant shock loads on the glider when landing on the deck.
In constructing the glider, much attention was paid to the creation of large composite panels cladding, matched as closely as possible. Pairing is performed using a computer system CATIA , developed and first used during the program the F-22. As a result, the aircraft has fewer seams, the thickness of the seam is much less than with traditional technologies.
Dismantling large panel gives great access to the units inside the airframe, in addition, reduced radar visibility of the aircraft in the joints of panel joints are practically no steps.
Structurally the aircraft during assembly consists of four basic blocks. The power part of the wing and forward fuselage with a cabin will be manufactured by Lockheed-Martin. Front and rear edge of the wing and GO will be constructed factory in Palmdeyl, the central part of the fuselage and vertical tail - concern BAE.
Assemblies will be supplied to the final assembly line is already "stuffed" subsystems. Final assembly of aircraft, despite its length of time (five months) would be fairly simple affair.Currently debating the establishment of a second and even third assembly line, but the solution of this question will depend on the continuation of the program. The projected rate of production on one line will be 17 aircraft per month, if necessary, it can be increased to 20 aircraft per month.This graph corresponds to modern plans for the Air Force, Navy and USMC as well as the Air Force and Royal Navy to order 3,000 planes of this type. In case of additional export orders will consider the establishment of additional assembly capacity, particularly in California factories or companies in England.
Share in the JSF program, the company Northrop Grumman is 17%. Including Northrop Grumman delivers about 35% of the flight software, as well as drives gruzootsekov valves, fire systems, and also has a stake in the works to reduce the visibility, integration and maintenance of onboard systems, technologies of communication, navigation and identification, and in the system of training pilots. Initial share of this company was 10% and now has a tendency to further growth.
Interest of the British group BAE was 13% and includes the development of fuel systems, rescue pilots, as well as work on systems integration and organization of the flight tests. BAE is working in close cooperation with the office management systems firm Lockheed-Martin to create a computerized system for monitoring and recording of aircraft, as well as with the office of Lockheed Martin Aerospace Electronics "and by" Lytton "by improving the system of electronic warfare.
In total, the team led by Lockheed Martin, included dozens of subcontractors spread across 20 U.S. states, Canada, UK and Holland. All subcontractors are divided into several groups, who head large companies or subsidiaries, such as Lockheed Martin SkankUorks, Northrop-Grumman and BAE, which are subject to smaller subcontractors, designers and suppliers of raw materials.
In the second group, finally formed in November 2000, represents over 40 companies. The main task of the group are measures to reduce the cost of the aircraft. In particular, the chassis meets the firm «BF Goodrich. Interestingly, many subcontractors involved in the JSF program as a Boeing and a Lockheed-Martin. This in particular applies to the company «BF Goodrich, which is engaged in designing fuel systems for the JSF firm Boeing.
Reducing the cost of the program is also achieved by selecting a single supplier of raw materials for all subcontractors who need it. In particular, titanium supplied by "Taytenium Service, a contract which includes priority service companies Lockheed Martin, BAE and others involved in the program who have a need for this raw material.
Another measure to reduce the cost of the program are targeted initiatives. In particular, according to DOD, 65% of the value life cycle cost of aircraft maintenance. With regard to the JSF program is the amount experts estimate the MoD, should reach 205 billion dollars over 30 years. The production volume JSF firm Lockheed-Martin Aircraft in 3000 and the application of well-established full responsibility aircraft maintenance at the intermediate level in general is excluded, the responsibilities of engineers includes only simple operations of blocks replacement items. Increasingly complex operations, the manufacturer does.
Option SUVVP fighter pilot of Lockheed-Martin X-35B test program began in the propulsion mode, creating a vertical thrust at the end of February 2001 Gazovki carried out on a leash, and the plane was mounted on special steel lattice cover over the pit gazovochnoy - rectangular hollow, equipped with the system ducts, promotes free withdrawal jets propulsion.Gazovochnaya pit was created in order to avoid the influence of land under gazovkah on a leash.During the test run by an English plane pilot Simon Hargreaves with the firm BAE Systems. "
Earlier, the aircraft powerplant, consisting of motor JSF119-611 rudder system, vertical fan and fan drive shaft, was successfully tested on the stand.
May 12, 2001 at a factory in Palmdeyl, California, a team of technical staff of the program JSF firm Lockheed Martin has completed installation of the lift fan, the rotary nozzle main engine and other equipment to operate the power plant on the modes of vertical thrust. Shortly before, the drive shaft and lift fan has successfully passed the next test for the maximum duration of work and have shown themselves completely reliable.
From 24 May to early June 2001 the X-35B aircraft under control of British test pilot firm BAE Systems' Simon Hargreaves completed the program of land gazovok and takeoffs on a leash in the mode of vertical thrust, and was prepared for flight tests beginning in the mode of short takeoff and vertical landing. Progress report was submitted to the government program office JSF. Representatives of the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps met with the design team the X-35 and exchanged views on progress and flight tests.
Flight tests of the X-35B aircraft began on June 23 by a series of vertical takeoffs and landings.The main test pilot is S. Hargriga having a big raid on the VTOL Harrier. The main principle laid down by "Lrkhid Maptin-in program testing prototypes of the new fighter, is a possible match between the experimental and production aircraft. According to company representative, the realization of this principle not only helps to save significant amounts of money on the approximation of the data on the prototype production aircraft, but also to avoid many troubles during the transition to mass production.
Powerplant SUVVP proved to be very reliable and has significant reserves of traction, even in conditions of heat and high altitude. The plane is ready to transition to horizontal flight mode and enter the supersonic stability and control on the vertical thrust mode, the Hargreaves reviews were very good.
At 6.30 am on June 24 the X-35B made a vertical takeoff, at 35 seconds, transferred to an established mode of hovering at a height of about 8 m, and then made a vertical landing.Hargreaves said about the characteristics of the stability of the aircraft as follows:

"I felt not so much the pilot and one passenger."

Engine JSF-119-611 showed excellent precision and acceleration. June 29 Air Force Major U.S. Marine Corps Art Tomassetti made on X-35B vertical takeoff, hovering and landing.Earlier Tomassetti already familiar with the aircraft in flight X-35 versions of A and C. 2 July, the Club Pilot X-35B has joined Squadron Justin Peyns of the British Air Force combat pilot who has extensive experience of flying on the VTOL Harrier.
The next stage of testing has been a shift in the mode of assumptions hover, transition from a vertical thrust to cruise mode and back, a series of short takeoff and vertical landing tests were continued, first on the basis of Edwards, and then - at the Center for Naval Aviation combat use in the Patuxent River.