Boeing

Boeing has selected Martin-Baker to produce the ejection seat design for the operational Boeing Joint Strike Fighter. JSF One Team member Martin-Baker currently provides the ejection seats for the Boeing JSF X-32A and X-32B concept demonstrator aircraft.

"We chose the Martin-Baker seat for our production JSF because it's the lowest risk, best-value design for our JSF customer," said Frank Statkus, Boeing vice president and JSF general manager. "Martin-Baker's Mk-16 design will increase the safety and survivability of future JSF pilots."

The JSF seat will be a derivative of the Mk-16 series seat already used on the T-6 Texan II trainer, Eurofighter, Rafale and other aircraft. It will accommodate pilots ranging from 103-245 pounds, which is a JSF requirement.

Boeing and Martin-Baker now will begin detailed planning for the next phase of the program - engineering and manufacturing development.

"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. "We have an outstanding relationship with Martin-Baker, and our team is eager to move into the next phase of the program and build on the outstanding success we had on the X-32 ejection seat test program."

Boeing, the world's largest producer of fighter aircraft, is competing to build the JSF under a four-year U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps concept demonstration phase contract, while also defining the design for the operational JSF. A winner is scheduled to be selected in 2001.

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