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BAE Systems begins third phase of F-35 airframe testing
By Ryan Maass | Feb. 4, 2016 at 10:55 AM
BAE Systems' latest tests will be performed to verify the F-35 airframe's ability to handle a variety of flying conditions. Photo courtesy of BAE Systems
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BROUGH, England, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- BAE Systems will soon begin its third phase of durability testing on airframes for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter.
The testing is performed to verify the airframes' ability to handle a variety of flight conditions. Each phase of testing lasts a total of 8,000 hours, equal to an airframe's lifetime.
The company has already completed testing the airframes for two lifetimes, or 16,000 hours, on the Conventional Take-Off and Landing variant of the airframe.
"Reaching two complete lifetimes of testing is an important milestone for our structural test facility at Brough, and demonstrates the proven endurance of the F-35 airframe," BAE Systems Structural and Dynamic Test operations manager Andy Prendergast said in a statement. "We will further qualify this by starting a third lifetime of testing."
The F-35 program led by prime contractor Lockheed Martin that aims to provide a next-generation fighter jet to participating armed forces. Defense officials in the United States plan to use the F-35 to replace aging F/A-18, F-16, and A-10 aircraft, though delays in testing and safety concerns have stalled procurement.
As the only Level/Tier 1 partner in the programme, the UK is responsible for almost 20% of the F-35. From a UK perspective the USD1.5 trillion international F-35 programme is expected to be worth almost $50 billion to the national gross domestic product from 2009-36, and will account for over 24,500 UK jobs covering a significant proportion of the country's aerospace industrial base.
As one of the three primary partners in the programme, BAE Systems is responsible for producing the aft fuselage section across all three F-35 variants. The company's primary F-35 production facility is at Samlesbury, but the programme's UK footprint extends to Brough (structural testing), Filton (Queen Elizabeth-class carrier integration and infrastructure planning), and Portsdown (Lightning System Integration Facility at the Maritime Integration and Support Centre).
BAE Systems supports the F-35 program by designing and delivering crew escape, life support, and fuel systems. The company also participates in weapons integration in the United Kingdom as well as flight test and structural testing.
BAE Systems begins third phase of F-35 airframe testing - UPI.com
By Ryan Maass | Feb. 4, 2016 at 10:55 AM
BAE Systems' latest tests will be performed to verify the F-35 airframe's ability to handle a variety of flying conditions. Photo courtesy of BAE Systems
SIGN UP FOR OUR SECURITY NEWSLETTER
Preview our latest newsletter »
BROUGH, England, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- BAE Systems will soon begin its third phase of durability testing on airframes for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter.
The testing is performed to verify the airframes' ability to handle a variety of flight conditions. Each phase of testing lasts a total of 8,000 hours, equal to an airframe's lifetime.
The company has already completed testing the airframes for two lifetimes, or 16,000 hours, on the Conventional Take-Off and Landing variant of the airframe.
"Reaching two complete lifetimes of testing is an important milestone for our structural test facility at Brough, and demonstrates the proven endurance of the F-35 airframe," BAE Systems Structural and Dynamic Test operations manager Andy Prendergast said in a statement. "We will further qualify this by starting a third lifetime of testing."
The F-35 program led by prime contractor Lockheed Martin that aims to provide a next-generation fighter jet to participating armed forces. Defense officials in the United States plan to use the F-35 to replace aging F/A-18, F-16, and A-10 aircraft, though delays in testing and safety concerns have stalled procurement.
As the only Level/Tier 1 partner in the programme, the UK is responsible for almost 20% of the F-35. From a UK perspective the USD1.5 trillion international F-35 programme is expected to be worth almost $50 billion to the national gross domestic product from 2009-36, and will account for over 24,500 UK jobs covering a significant proportion of the country's aerospace industrial base.
As one of the three primary partners in the programme, BAE Systems is responsible for producing the aft fuselage section across all three F-35 variants. The company's primary F-35 production facility is at Samlesbury, but the programme's UK footprint extends to Brough (structural testing), Filton (Queen Elizabeth-class carrier integration and infrastructure planning), and Portsdown (Lightning System Integration Facility at the Maritime Integration and Support Centre).
BAE Systems supports the F-35 program by designing and delivering crew escape, life support, and fuel systems. The company also participates in weapons integration in the United Kingdom as well as flight test and structural testing.
BAE Systems begins third phase of F-35 airframe testing - UPI.com
