Boeing X-32A JSF Demonstrator Takes to the Air on First Flights

By RICHARD R. BURGESS

The Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program has taken off smartly with the first flight of the X-32A JSF concept demonstration aircraft. The X-32A—one of two JSF demonstrators being built by Boeing—took off from Palmdale, Calif., and landed at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.

During the flight—the first of 50 planned test flights totaling 100 hours—Boeing’s chief JSF test pilotFred Knox put the X-32A through "some initial airworthiness tests, including flying qualities and subsystems checkout," company officials said.

"The X-32A is a pleasure to fly," Knox said of the 18 September flight. "It is already showing the precise handling qualities we expected based on simulator work."

"Today, our Boeing JSF team continued its remarkable progress toward building a strike aircraft for our customers that will affordably meet their requirements on day one and for decades to come," said Boeing Chairman and CEO Phil Condit.

Five days later, the X-32A completed its second flight, during which Knox flew the aircraft to an altitude of 10,000 feet, attaining an air speed of more than 200 miles per hour. Knox conducted a series of maneuvers during the 50-minute flight to verify the aircraft’s airworthiness before subjecting it to more strenuous maneuvers. The second flight was conducted after a minor hydraulic leak had been repaired.

The X-32A is designed to demonstrate the conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) version of the JSF intended for the U.S. Air Force. The X-32A later will be used to demonstrate the low-speed carrier approach flying and handling qualities required for the Navy version of the JSF. The second Boeing-built demonstrator, the X-32B, will demonstrate the short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) design for the U.S. Marine Corps, the Royal Navy, and the Royal Air Force.

The X-32’s first flights also were the first for the JSF119 engine built by Pratt & Whitney. "During the entire flight, the JSF119 performed well," said Robert Crea, vice president for JSF119 programs at Pratt & Whitney. Company officials said that the engine "met or exceeded all performance requirements" during the first flight.

Prior to the first flight, the X-32A was put through a series of high-speed taxi tests designed to verify "the function and integration of aircraft systems—including steering, braking, engine controls, and flight control surfaces—with the aircraft in motion," Boeing officials said.

"After the successful low- and medium-speed tests we ran previously, these runs—at speeds up to 130 knots—allowed us to evaluate our air data sensors as a precursor to the first flight," said Ad Thompson, Boeing’s X-32 flight manager.

In a related development, the X-32B moved a step closer to its first flight with the completion of the first phase of engine runs for the Pratt & Whitney F119-614 STOVL engine. Boeing officials said that the engine ran smoothly at low power and that all propulsion system components "operated as designed."

The X-32B’s STOVL thrust system uses lift nozzles to redirect engine thrust downward for vertical lift. For conventional forward flight, the nozzles are closed to direct all thrust rearward.

"The engine run parallels the same success achieved on the X-32A initial engine run, demonstrating the high commonality of engine integration between the [CTOL] and carrier variant, and the STOVL aircraft," said Thompson. The first flight of the X-32B is scheduled for the first quarter of 2001.

In another development, Boeing has announced a $250 million modernization plan for its facilities in St. Louis, Mo. The facilities upgrade, which involves a 20 percent net reduction of the company’s facility space in St. Louis, will include construction of a JSF assembly building if the Boeing team wins the JSF competition.

New Sidewinder Missile Shifts Into LRIP Phase

The newest variant of the Sidewinder heat-seeking air-to-air missile—the AIM-9X—has been approved for low-rate initial production (LRIP). Production of the Raytheon-built missile was approved by Jacques Gansler, undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology, and logistics, after a review of the program by the Defense Acquisition Board.

Navy officials said that Raytheon will be awarded a $43 million contract to build 143 AIM-9X missiles as soon as fiscal year (FY) 2001 appropriations are received by the Naval Air Systems Command. The Navy and Air Force are scheduled to receive 76 and 67 of the LRIP missiles, respectively. First deliveries are scheduled for FY 2002, with initial operational capability expected in FY 2003. The missiles initially will arm the F/A-18C/D Hornet and F-15C Eagle fighters. The Navy and Air Force plan to purchase 5,000 and 5,097 of the new missiles, respectively, over a projected 18-year production run.

The AIM-9X—which will succeed the AIM-9M version—"provides both beyond-visual range and short-range high off-boresight attack capabilities during highly dynamic air-to-air combat engagements involving challenging countermeasure environments," Navy officials said.

"This missile reestablishes U.S. air combat dominance in a highly competitive international arena," said Capt. David Venlet, air-to-air missile program manager for the Naval Air Systems Command. "The AIM-9X has demonstrated the capability to exceed stringent requirements for the Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and select foreign customers."

Boeing Rolls Out C-40A For Naval Air Reserve

The first of a new generation of fleet logistics aircraft for the Navy has been rolled out of Boeing’s facility in Seattle, Wash. The first C-40A Clipper—the military designation of the Boeing 737-700C—will enter service with the Naval Air Reserve at Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base in Fort Worth, Texas.

Hundreds of Boeing personnel as well as Navy program officials attended the 9 September rollout ceremonies for the new aircraft. "We are very pleased to celebrate the premiere of the C-40 Clipper today," said Mark Rogers, director of Boeing Derivative Airplane Programs. "This airplane will serve the U.S. Naval Reserve well, and we look forward to providing the government with many more 737 next-generation airplanes in the future."

The Navy’s fleet of 15 C-9Bs and 12 similar DC-9 aircraft form a significant segment of the Naval Air Reserve’s airlift force, which provides all of the Navy’s worldwide in-theater medium and heavy airlift support. The Marine Corps also operates two C-9Bs.

"Nearly 25 percent of our C-9s are more than 30 years old," said Rear Adm. John B. Totushek, chief of Naval Reserve. "We are excited about having the Clipper join our fleet and eventually replace all 27 of our C-9 aircraft."

Fleet Logistics Squadron 59 (VR-59) at Fort Worth will fly the first four of the five C-40As now on order, with the first delivery scheduled for 2001. A sixth C-40A was approved in the fiscal year 2001 budget. VR-58, based at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla.—will replace its C-9Bs with the fifth and sixth C-40As, and is expected to receive additional Clippers as they are funded.

Boeing officials said that the Naval Air Reserve expects to save more than $27 million annually in fuel and maintenance costs once the transition to the C-40A is complete. Navy officials said that the C-40A will meet or exceed the environmental requirements postulated for it and offer increased range and payload improvements over the C-9. The Clipper is equipped with a global positioning system and a digital glass cockpit with a head-up display.

The C-40A—which is equipped with a cargo door in the forward fuselage— will be certified to operate in three configurations: (1) all-passenger (121 passengers); (2) all-cargo; or (3) combination (up to three cargo pallets and 70 passengers). The first C-40A is being modified for the combination configuration this autumn at the Boeing facility in Wichita, Kan.

Boeing has proposed variants of the C-40 to fill other military requirements. The C-40B and C-40C have been offered, respectively, as support aircraft for unified commanders in chief, and to replace the C-22 aircraft assigned to the National Guard Bureau.

Defense Industry Notes

n GE Aircraft Engines has been awarded a $385 million Naval Air Systems Command contract to build 73 F414-GE-404 turbine engines for installation in the Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet strike fighters. Exercise of an option for 92 additional engines would add $440 million to the value of the contract.

n General Dynamics Advanced Technology Systems has been awarded a $91 million Navy contract to provide engineering and manufacturing development for the Area Air-Defense Commander (AADC) Capability Program, a 21st century battlespace management program that is designed to provide joint commanders with fully integrated air-defense capabilities. The program will use computer technology to develop air-defense plans that can recommend the tactical placement of air-defense forces. AADC Capability units are slated for installation on the Navy’s Ticonderoga-class Aegis guided-missile cruisers.

National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO), a General Dynamics company, has been awarded a $630 million contract to build three double-hull crude oil tankers for British Petroleum (BP). The 185,000 deadweight ton, 941-foot-long tankers will be used by BP to transport crude oil from Valdez, Alaska, to ports along the U.S. West Coast. The contract includes options to build three additional tankers.

Raytheon Aerospace has been awarded a $77.2 million Naval Air Systems Command contract to provide logistics and maintenance support for the Navy’s 312 T-34C and 55 T-44A training aircraft. The contract’s value with the exercise of four one-year options would be increased to $374.1 million.

Southwest Marine Inc.—a U.S. Marine Repair shipyard in San Diego, Calif.—has been awarded a $55 million five-year Naval Sea Systems Command contract to perform phased maintenance on Whidbey Island-class dock landing ships based in San Diego. The new contract follows an earlier $100 million contract awarded to the company in June to perform phased maintenance on other amphibious ships homeported in San Diego.

Lockheed Martin has been awarded a 10-year $250 million Navy contract to provide engineering, operations, and other services for the Surface Combat Systems Center at Wallops Island, Va. The contract will team the company’s Systems Support & Training Services and Naval Electronics & Sensor Systems divisions for the work, which includes support for unspecified Navy Network-Centric Warfare initiatives.