F-22 Raptor Achieves Key Program Criteria
Source: Lockheed Martin January 5, 2001
F-22 Raptor Achieves Key Program Criteria -
Marietta, Ga. - The U.S. Air Force's F-22 program soared
over another milestone today with the first flight of an F-22 Raptor
equipped with combat-capable avionics as Boeing test pilot Randy
Neville flew the successful first flight of Raptor 4005 from Lockheed
Martin's facility in Marietta, Ga.
One of three remaining tasks required prior to a
decision to start F-22 low-rate initial production, the flight
incorporated Block 3.0 software components, which provide functions
such as radar processing and sensor fusion, electronic warfare and
countermeasures, communication, navigation and identification, and
pilot/vehicle interface.
"Flying Raptor 4005 with the Block 3.0 represented the
program's current most technically demanding challenge," said Brig.
Gen. Jay Jabour, F-22 System Program Director. "This successful
flight, in addition to our other recent achievements, demonstrates
that the program is ready for low-rate production."
The F-22 is the crucial next step to the Air Force's
transformation to the expeditionary aerospace force of the future.
Fielding it in sufficient numbers will guarantee U.S. air dominance
for the next three decades. As a force enabler, it will reduce the
risk to U.S. and friendly forces in conflicts of all sizes and lead to
dramatically fewer allied casualties, he added.
The F-22 program is managed by the F-22 System Program
Office, Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.
"Block 3.0 is the software that provides and controls
the 'first look, first shot, first kill' warfighting capability of the
F-22 Raptor," said Tom McDermott, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics' F-22
avionics product manager. "Block 3.0 provides the multi-sensor fusion
Raptor pilots will need to accurately acquire, track, identify and
engage multiple targets."
In addition to Block 3.0's ability to launch and guide
multiple weapons - such as the AIM 120 and AIM-9 air-to-air missiles -
this software package enables the aircraft to automatically detect and
defeat incoming missiles by initiating the Raptor's counter- measures,
according to McDermott.
The Boeing Company integrates and tests the Raptor's
avionics at the Avionics Integration Lab (AIL) in Seattle and on the
Flying Test Bed (FTB.) Both the AIL and FTB are helping reduce
avionics risks and contain development costs by enabling extensive
evaluation and troubleshooting before full avionics are installed on
the F-22.
The decision to enter low-rate initial production (LRIP)
rests with the Defense Acquisition Board (DAB) chaired by the defense
undersecretary for acquisition and technology.
The DAB, previously scheduled for January 3, has been
postponed until next week. Weather was the driving factor in
postponing the meeting. The program was on schedule to meet all DAB
requirements until three snow storms at the Marietta, Ga., test site
forced the rescheduling of the last three criteria tests. Had the
weather cooperated, all DAB testing
would have been completed by the first week of January.
"We were on schedule to complete all the testing until
the weather turned bad on us. The good news is the F-22 is the most
tested aircraft the DoD has ever developed. It features proven
technology that promises to give America the most-advanced fighter
aircraft in the world for the next 20 years," said Secretary of the
Air Force F. Whitten Peters.
The Air Force is confident the F-22 program will meet
all performance requirements while delivering 339 aircraft within the
Congressional funding cap, the Secretary added. He and other senior
Air Force officials are interpreting Congress' recent approval of
bridge funding to keep the F-22 on track as a sign of its faith in the
program and the aircraft.
Last year, the F-22 program faced the challenging task
of completing 11 DAB criteria needed to satisfy an LRIP decision by
Dec. 31, 2000. Despite several delays, including the recent snow
storms, it is now within days of completing the final two. So far, in
addition to flying the Block 3.0 software on Raptor 4005, the program
has completed eight other criteria to include: critical design review
for the avionics Block 3.1 software, air vehicle final production
readiness review, aircraft 4008 mate of the fuselage, wing and
empennage, and the first half engine qualification test. Also
completed were flight testing high angle of attack with weapons bay
doors open, demonstrating missile separation for the AIM-9 and
AIM-120, initiating fatigue testing, and completing static structural
tests. The remaining two criteria to be completed include first flight
of Raptor 4006 and initiating radar cross-section flight testing.
The Raptor contractor team, consisting of Lockheed
Martin Aeronautics Company, the Boeing Company, Seattle, Wash., and
Pratt & Whitney, Hartford, Conn. produce the F-22. Eleven major
subsystem suppliers from across the country developed the Block 3.0
software.
The F-22 will replace the F-15 as the Air Force's next
air superiority fighter aircraft.
Contact: Greg Caires
http://www.lmtas.com/news/press/f22/f22pr010105.html
(770) 494-1671
e-mail: greg.a.caires@lmco.com