FORT WORTH, Texas, July 24, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The F-35 Joint
Program Office, U.S. Air Force and Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) have
started integrating the Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System
(Auto-GCAS) on to Air Force F-35As in the fleet. Leveraging a
rapid, agile development, test and contracting approach, the joint
government and industry team successfully fielded the life-saving
technology seven years earlier than previously planned.
"This is a great day for the warfighter as the Auto-GCAS is a
proven system that is long overdue," said Lt. Gen. Eric Fick, F-35 Program Executive Officer.
"Expediting this life-saving technology into the F-35 across the
global fleet will bring more warfighters home. Over the service
life of the F-35 fleet, having Auto-GCAS is estimated to prevent
more than 26 ground collisions from happening. It is indeed a
remarkable achievement in aeronautics which will improve the
performance, efficiency, and safety of the F-35. The time and
effort expended to deliver this critical warfighting capability is
worth it – it will save lives."
Originally developed for the F-16 in partnership with NASA and
the Air Force Research Laboratory, Auto-GCAS uses terrain mapping,
geolocation and automation to detect and avoid potential ground
collisions. When the program recognizes imminent impact, it will
prompt the pilot to take action. If the pilot is unresponsive,
Auto-GCAS assumes temporary control to divert the aircraft out of
harm's way, and then returns control of the aircraft to the pilot
once on a safe trajectory.
The system has been operating successfully aboard the F-16 for
more than five years and has already been credited with saving
eight F-16 pilots' lives since 2014.
"Early integration of Auto GCAS in the F-35 is bringing game
changing safety capability to a rapidly growing fleet. It
couldn't have come at a better time as we near full rate production
resulting in more aircraft and pilots exposed to rigorous
missions," said Lt. Col. Darren Wees of the Air Force's F-35
Integration Office. "Many thanks to the tenacious efforts of many
organizations, primarily the Air Force Research Lab, Air Force Test
Center, Lockheed Martin and the F-35 Joint Program Office who made
this a technical reality, as well as the U.S. services and F-35
Partner Nations that ensured its inclusion in the
program. These efforts have already saved lives and aircraft
in the F-16, and will save lives in the F-35."
Auto-GCAS was originally slated for delivery in the 2026
timeframe. To accelerate the technology, Air Force Research
Laboratory and Lockheed Martin conducted positive feasibility
studies and the F-35 Joint Program Office and Lockheed Martin then
implemented an agile approach to develop the technology for
integration on the F-35. The 412th Test Wing at Edwards Air Force
Base then completed a rigorous flight testing program to validate
its performance and safety, which led to the wing's formal
recommendation to field Auto-GCAS aboard the F-35.
"The F-35 is the most survivable fighter jet in the world today
– and the addition of Auto-GCAS will further enhance safety and
save lives," said Greg Ulmer,
Lockheed Martin's vice president and general manager of the F-35
program. "The safe and effective acceleration of this technology is
a testament to the joint government and industry team partnering in
an agile environment to deliver life-saving capability to our men
and women in uniform, significantly sooner than planned."
U.S. Air Force F-35As are the first to receive Auto-GCAS, and
the system will next be integrated aboard the F-35B and F-35C
variants. The Auto-GCAS team was recently recognized with the
National Aeronautic Associations' 2018 Robert J. Collier Trophy,
and received the prestigious award in June
2019.
With stealth technology, advanced sensors, supersonic speed,
weapons capacity and superior range, the F-35 is the most lethal,
survivable and connected aircraft in the world. More than a fighter
jet, the F-35's ability to collect, analyze and share data, is a
powerful force multiplier that enhances all airborne, surface and
ground-based assets in the battlespace enabling men and women in
uniform to execute their mission and return home safely.
For additional information, visit www.f35.com.
About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a
global security and aerospace company that employs approximately
105,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the
research, design, development, manufacture, integration and
sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and
services.
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SOURCE Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company