The Lockheed Martin X-35 was an experimental aircraft developed by
Lockheed Martin for the Joint Strike Fighter Program. It was declared
the winner over the Boeing X-32 and went on to enter production in the
early 21st century as the F-35 Lightning II.
- On August 1, 2001, Lockheed Martin's X-35B became the first aircraft to make a short takeoff, a level supersonic dash, and a vertical soft landing, all on the same flight. The Defense Department announced on October 26, 2001, that it had chosen the X-35 as winner of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) competition.
The
Joint Strike Fighter is a multilateral cooperative development program
involving the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, as well as
Britain's Royal Air Force and Royal Navy. Designed to penetrate
high-threat enemy airspace and engage enemy targets in virtually any
type of conflict, the JSF incorporates stealth, maneuverability, long
range, and highly advanced avionics.- Three unique features are implemented by the STOVL engine: a Shaft-Driven Lift Fan (SDLF) by Rolls-Royce, two roll ducts, and a 3-Bearing Swivel Nozzle (3BSN). The Pratt & Whitney F119 Engine powers the SDLF, providing it with over 37,000 pounds of lift, while the exhaust from the engine is channeled through the 3-Bearing Swivel Nozzle to provide stability. Control ducts extending from the sides of the engine allow maneuverability and further stabilize the engine.
- The X-35 brings the use of technology to the cockpit. Some of the special features include a voice-recognition system, rear-projection displays, personal identification card system, and a helmet-mounted display.
New
technology in the weapons systems qualifies the X-35 to be the attack
aircraft of the future. In addition to guided missiles, engineers are
developing a directed-energy weapon system that allows the Joint Strike
Fighter to fire a laser at targets. The fighter's air-to-ground
capabilities would also be improved by equipping cruise missiles with
high-powered microwave technology. - These new weapons will allow the X-35 to destroy a wide variety of targets, including cruise missiles, ballistic missile, spacecraft, and communication and surveillance satellites. It is intended as a replacement for Air Force F-16 and A-10, Navy F/A-18 plus some F-14, and Marine Corps AV-8B Harriers.
