Selection of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) competition winner marks the transition from the end of the concept demonstration phase (CDP) to the start of full scale development of the Preferred Weapon System Concept (PWSC), an effort which is expected to extend beyond the end of this decade and cost at least $19 billion.
A broad overview supplied by the JSF Programme Office (JPO) calls for the first PWSC test aircraft to fly 48 months from the time the system development and demonstration (SDD)- previously engineering and manufacturing development - contract is awarded.
The initial production aircraft is earmarked for delivery in 2008 to support a US Marine Corps initial operational capability (IOC) in 2010. US Air Force IOC is set for 2011. The 126-month SDD phase is projected to end in 2012, with the US Navy and UK Royal Air Force and Royal Navy reaching IOC.
An SDD contract is expected to follow the down selection by a matter of weeks, with the JPO focusing in the interim on refining its requirements document and the winning team adjusting work share to absorb the losing contender. The initial major development milestone will be a systems requirement review three months after the start of SDD work.
A preliminary design review (PDR) is pencilled in for the second half of 2002, at which point system definition is expected to be 25% or more complete as the result of the JPO having matured its requirements during CDP, limiting the need for design updates. PDR will be followed by the start of long lead procurement, such as structural forgings, and a critical design review - all within 12 months.
Flight testing will require 14 PWSC development aircraft, comprising five conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) versions for the USAF, four of the aircraft carrier (CV) configured variant for the USN and five of the short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) derivative for the USMC and UK. The intention is to build the aircraft as close to the production standard as possible and have common flight test goals and a subset for each version. Tests will be centred on the USAF's Edwards AFB and the USN's Patuxent River facility, but, unlike CDP, could also include Boscombe Down in the UK.
All three versions will be developed together, but the first to fly is likely to be the CTOL aircraft unless a decision is taken to accelerate either the CV or STOVL version. Avionics software development will be evolved, with the initial block limited to flight control and limited sensor functionality, followed within about a year by a more fully missionised software load. There will also be two static test aircraft for each version, along with additional CV drop test and radar-signature pole-test airframes.
Long lead for low rate initial production is to start just over three years into SDD, with full rate production peaking as high as 172 fighters a year and extending to 2030.
Operational aircraft will also debut in an iterative manner, with the initial Block 1 standard confined to a basic warfighting capability with the Boeing Joint Direct Attack Munition and Raytheon AIM-120 AMRAAM missile. Block 2 will integrate additional weapons for close air support and interdiction, while Block 3 will be capable of suppression of enemy air defences and deep strike.
While only one airframe team continues, two engine programmes are underway. Pratt & Whitney is developing the lead engine and a General Electric/Rolls-Royce team is developing the JSF-F120. First runs will be in 2004.
Source: Flight International
