First supersonic flight by US short-takeoff stealth fighter
June 15th, 2010 - 6:03 pm ICT by IANSWashington, June 15 (IANS) A fifth generation stealth fighter with short-takeoff-vertical-landing capabilities has for the first time flown at supersonic speeds, providing military commanders a potent edge as the aircraft can operate from ships and from bases close to areas of conflict.
The Lockheed Martin F-35B achieved the feat when US Marine Corps pilot Lt. Col. Matt Kelly climbed to 30,000 feet and accelerated to Mach 1.07 at the offshore supersonic test track near Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, a company statement said.
“For the first time in military aviation history, supersonic, radar-evading stealth comes with short-takeoff-vertical-landing capability,” said Bob Price, Lockheed Martin’s F-35 US Marine Corps programme manager.
“The supersonic F-35B can deploy from small ships and austere bases near frontline combat zones, greatly enhancing combat air support with higher sortie-generation rates,” he added.
Future testing will gradually expand the flight envelope out to the aircraft’s top speed of Mach 1.6, which the F-35B is designed to achieve with a full internal weapons load of more than 3,000 pounds, the statement said, adding the jet is designed to launch internal missiles at maximum supersonic speed, as well as launch internal guided bombs supersonically.
The F-35B will enter service with the US Marines, the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy and the Italian Air Force and Navy.
The jet is the third F-35 to achieve supersonic flight. Two F-35A conventional takeoff and landing variants also have broken the sound barrier. An F-35C carrier variant is also under development.
The F-35 Lightning II is a fifth generation fighter, combining advanced stealth with fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations, advanced sustainment, and lower operational and support costs.
The F-35 programme has about 900 suppliers in 45 US states and directly and indirectly employs more than 127,000 people. Thousands more are employed in the F-35 partner countries, which have invested more than $4 billion in the project. The countries are Australia, Britain, Canada, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and Turkey.
- Lockheed Martin may sell fifth generation F-35 to India - Feb 16, 2010
- China's apparent 'stealth aircraft' may pose "terrifying" challenge to US fleet: Experts - Jan 08, 2011
- Lockheed Martin F-35 programme awarded for 'cutting-edge design' - May 14, 2010
- Lockheed Martin's F-35 fighter spotlights international partners - Jun 18, 2009
- Japan picks F-35 as next-generation fighter jet - Dec 20, 2011
- US, Japan discuss purchase of F-35 fighters - Feb 24, 2012
- Lockheed denies media reports, says F-22 not joining final day of Aero India 2011 - Feb 11, 2011
- Nut graph on combat jet contenders - Apr 28, 2011
- India test flies naval variant of LCA (Lead) - Apr 28, 2012
- F-35B stealth fighter passes crucial ground test - May 30, 2008
- Russian-built, BrahMos-fitted frigate set for Indian Navy induction - Dec 16, 2011
- Work on BrahMos' hypersonic version on - Oct 10, 2011
- Russia to increase number of fighters in test flights - Feb 13, 2012
- India-Russia combat jet may compete in South Korean tender - Aug 18, 2011
- Bollywood star Shahid Kapoor flies in F-16 at air show - Feb 12, 2011
Tags: bob price, conventional takeoff, first supersonic flight, flight envelope, generation fighter, generation rates, italian air force, lockheed martin, marine corps pilot, matt kelly, military aviation history, naval air station patuxent river, patuxent river, patuxent river maryland, pilot lt, royal navy, stealth fighter, supersonic speed, us marines, weapons load