Both the Boeing Co. and Lockheed Martin have selected Martin-Baker to produce ejection seats for their respective Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft. Martin-Baker currently provides the ejection seats for the Boeing JSF X-32A and X-32B demonstrators.
The JSF seat will be a derivative of the Mk-16 series seat already used on the T-6 Texan II, Eurofighter, Rafale, and other aircraft. It will accommodate pilots ranging from 103-245 lb.
The Mk-16E design allows for the cockpit to be optimized to ensure the seat is fully integrated as part of the crew station environment. Its ergonomic design can accommodate pilots of widely varying sizes without jeopardizing safe escape.
The seat provides a performance escape envelope tailored to provide levels of safe aircrew recovery for all JSF variants. Development during the JSF's engineering and manufacturing development phase will evolve to achieve significant improvements in seat acceleration limits, stability control, trajectory predictability, and terrain-clearance recovery capability. The Mk-16E's modular construction allows for long-term JSF growth potential, enabling it to meet the needs of the aircraft throughout its projected service life.
Lockheed Martin has adopted an engineering methodology that integrates all cockpit systems. The seat will be fully integrated with the cockpit life support systems and helmet-mounted display equipment and is the principle interface between the pilot and the aircraft.
Boeing's work will also be focused on integrating the seat into its cockpit system. "Our emphasis will be on full integration of the ejection seat into the Boeing JSF cockpit, canopy, and life support system designs," said Stan Kasprzyk, Boeing JSF Cockpit Manager.
Frank Bokulich
Aerospace Engineering October 2000
