Boeing

Boeing successfully completed the fourth full-mission simulation of its Joint Strike Fighter operational concept with pilots from the U.S. Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and the U.K. Royal Navy flying approximately 100 simulated air-to-air and air-to ground missions during a seven-day period.

The missions to locate and defeat enemy forces helped prove that the company's Preferred Weapon System Concept (PWSC) meets customer requirements. To help validate its weapon system, Boeing incorporated into the simulation high-fidelity data gathered from several sources, including its 737 Avionics Flying Lab and propulsion testing done on its JSF concept-demonstration aircraft.

"The fourth full-mission simulation demonstration is the culmination of a successful risk-reduction program for our overall integrated PWSC," said Dennis Muilenburg, director of the JSF weapon system. "The capabilities developed over the thousands of hours of testing, simulations and refinement of the JSF cockpit, pilot-vehicle interface, survivability, flying qualities, weapons integration and mission avionics will enable Boeing to enter the next phase of the program with low risk."

Using operational mission scenarios, Boeing demonstrated new functions for two-ship operations, its intra-flight data link and its off-board data information concept. The simulations provided full pilot-in-the-loop functionality. Boeing also showed improved capability for features simulated in the first three demonstrations: air-to-ground and air-to-air weapons deployment, sensor management, sensor fusion, radar and pilot-vehicle interface.

An advanced helmet-mounted display system that integrates flight, targeting, threat and night vision information also was demonstrated. Combined with the glass cockpit display suite, this provides the pilot simultaneous support of air-to-air and air-to-ground operations.

Additionally, Boeing showcased its capability to generate pilot-vehicle interface software using off-the-shelf design tools. The same process will be used in the next phase of the program to provide a significant reduction in development costs for the software.

The simulation flew within a synthetic battlespace provided by the U.S. government as part of the JSF program office's Strike Warfare Collaborative Environment (SWCE). The simulation and coordination with the government SWCE are major components of the Boeing One Team and simulation based acquisition initiatives.

Boeing, the world's largest producer of fighter aircraft, is competing to build the JSF under a four-year contract. A winner will be selected in 2001.

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