The Joint Strike
Fighter (JSF) program, formerly the Joint Advanced Strike Technology (JAST)
program, will develop and field a tri-service family of next-generation
strike aircraft with an emphasis on affordability. The "family of aircraft"
concept allows a high level of commonality while meeting unique service
and allied needs. The United Kingdom is a collaborative partner in the
program; other nations are also likely to participate.
The
focus of the JSF effort is to reduce the costs of developing, producing,
and owning these aircraft. The program is accomplishing this by facilitating
the Services' development of fully validated, affordable operational requirements,
and by lowering technical risk by investing in and demonstrating key leveraging
technologies and operational concepts prior to the start of Engineering
and Manufacturing Development (E&MD).
In November 1996,
designs from two contractors - Lockheed Martin and Boeing - were selected
to compete in the JSF Concept Demonstration Phase. This phase will feature
flying concept demonstrators, ground and flight demonstrations, and continued
refinement of weapon system concepts. Both contractors will demonstrate
their design's commonality and modularity characteristics, STOVL hover
and transition to forward flight, and low-speed handling qualities. Pratt
and Whitney is providing engine hardware for the concept demonstration
phase, while General Electric continues its technical efforts to develop
an alternate engine source for production aircraft. The Concept Demonstration
phase is designed to lead to an affordable and low risk transition to the
E&MD phase in 2001. The first operational aircraft will be delivered
in 2008.
This joint approach to the JSF's development is anticipated to produce
significant savings when compared to the costs of separate programs. The
government and industry team is converging on a design concept which, when
coupled with other technology "building blocks," will result in continuing
U.S. technological superiority at an affordable price.
