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Raytheon receives US Navy contract to continue F-35C JPALS test and analysis program

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Naval Defense Industry News - USA
 
 
 
Raytheon receives US Navy contract to continue F-35C JPALS test and analysis program
 
The U.S. Navy extended Raytheon Company's Engineering and Manufacturing Development contract on the Joint Precision Approach Landing Systems (JPALS) program. Raytheon will continue testing and analysis in support of auto-land capability and integration of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The contract value is $52 million.
     
The U.S. Navy extended Raytheon Company's Engineering and Manufacturing Development contract on the Joint Precision Approach Landing Systems (JPALS) program. Raytheon will continue testing and analysis in support of auto-land capability and integration of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The contract value is $52 million.
PACIFIC OCEAN (Nov. 3, 2014) An F-35C Lightening II carrier variant Joint Strike Fighter conducts it's first arrested landing aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Nimitz is underway conducting routine training exercises. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kelly M. Agee/Released)
     
"The JPALS program is a collaboration between the U.S. Navy and Raytheon," said Brian Hickey, director, Raytheon Navigation and Landing Systems. "Landing a high-powered, high-speed aircraft on a moving carrier in rough seas is an exceptionally difficult task. The progress we've made is resulting in truly game changing technology for Navy pilots."

JPALS works with the GPS satellite navigation system to provide accurate, reliable and high-integrity guidance for fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft. The system features anti-jam protection to ensure mission continuity in hostile environments and enables precision landings in all weather and environmental conditions.
     
The F-35 Cooperative Avionics Test Bed (CATBird), a modified Boeing 737-330, accomplished initial connectivity and datalink testing between the F-35 Lightning II and a Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS) test facility at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland in 2014.
The F-35 Cooperative Avionics Test Bed (CATBird) supports software development for upcoming F-35B/C developmental and operational tests, including the elements of the Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS). When fully implemented, JPALS will benefit carrier-based air traffic control by enabling automatic carrier landings (auto-land), enhancing aircraft position reporting, and increasing Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN) functionality. (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin)
     
The F-35 Cooperative Avionics Test Bed (CATBird), a modified Boeing 737-330, accomplished initial connectivity and datalink testing between the F-35 Lightning II and a Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS) test facility at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland in 2014.

Earlier this year, the Landing Systems Test Facility also hosted CATBird to prepare for the second developmental test (DT-II) ship trials of the F-35C Lightning II scheduled for later this year.

“Initial testing with the JPALS ship system was very successful and met F-35 Lightning II primary test objectives,” said Lt. Cmdr. Chris Taylor, co-lead for the JPALS Integrated Product Team at the Naval Air Traffic Management Systems (PMA-213) program office. “Follow-on testing in April and May was also successful in capturing essential data that will deliver F-35 UDB risk reduction to developmental testing with the JPALS ship system.”

A key feature of the former commercial airliner is its ability to transport a team of test engineers in its flying laboratory specially equipped to integrate, test, and validate mission systems avionics for the F-35 Lightning II. The use of CATBird enables the team to test mission systems in a dynamic environment and apply real-time modifications the same day or even hours after a test flight.