Boeing X-32

The Boeing X-32 was the losing competitor in the Joint Strike Fighter contest.

In 1990 the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) launched the Common Affordable Lightweight Fighter project (CALF). Around the same time the Joint Advanced Strike Technology (JAST) project was started. In 1994 the Congress of the United States ordered the two to be merged into the Joint Strike Fighter project.

On 16 November 1996 Boeing and Lockheed Martin were awarded contracts under Phase II to produce two concept demonstrators which were to demonstrate Conventional Take Off and Landing (CTOL), carrier take off and landing (CV version), and Short Take Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL). McDonnell Douglas, having failed to proceed in the project, joined the Boeing team.

One major departure from previous projects in this demonstration phase was the prohibition of the companies using their own money to finance development. Each was awarded $750 million to produce their two aircraft – including avionics, software and hardware. The companies were also expected to include ground demonstrations of a production representative aircraft and systems – the Preferred Weapon System Concept (PWSC.) This limitation promoted the adoption of low cost manufacturing and assembly techniques and also prevented either Boeing or Lockheed from bankrupting themselves in an effort to win such an important contest.

If the contract were to be awarded for originality of design the X-32 should surely have won, it featured a huge chin mounted air intake and a large one piece wing. First flight of the X-32A (CTOL and carrier trials) took place in September 2000 from Boeing's Palmdale plant to Edwards Air Force Base. The X-32B demonstrated STOVL flight, first flying in March 2001. The X-32 achieved STOVL flight in much the same way as the Harrier, i.e. thrust vectoring. The Lockheed Martin team used a much higher risk method for vertical lift – a lift fan, the main benefit of which is a reduced heat effects on landing and take off. Flight testing of both variants, and the Lockheed aircraft, continued until July 2001. The design was original but much ridiculed by pilots, who referred to the gape-mouthed aircraft as the "Monica."

JSF contract

On 26 October 2001 the DoD announced that Lockheed Martin X-35 had won the JSF competition. The primary reason for this choice appears to be the method of achieving STOVL flight – with the DoD judging that the higher performance lift fan system was worth the extra risk, particularly its excess thrust which will be important when the aircraft weight starts to rise.

The loss of the JSF contract to Lockheed Martin in 2001 was a major blow to Boeing as it represented the most important international fighter aircraft project since the F-16 Fighting Falcon. The production run of the F-35, as the JSF is now known, is estimated at anywhere between 3000 and 5000. Prior to the awarding of the contract many lawmakers pushed the idea of retaining the losing competitor as a sub-contractor, however the "winner takes all" principle was not changed.

Boeing views its investment in the X-32 as a strategic investment, yielding important technologies which it has been able to adopt in the F/A-18 Super Hornet and other studies.

Characteristics

• Powerplant:
  • Pratt & Whitney F135 turbofan rated at 155.7 KN maximum thrust; military thrust classified, possibly about 117 KN.

• Size:
  • Length: 15.47 m
  • Height: 5.28 m
  • Wingspan: 10.97 m
  • Wing area: 54.81 m²

• Weight:
  • Empty: 10,900 Kg
  • Normal takeoff: 19,000 Kg
  • Maximum: 17,236 Kg

• Speed:
  • Maximum: Mach 1.6 at altitude
• Ceiling:
• Range:

• • Operational radius
    • USAF Mission Profile: 1,575 Km
    • USN Mission Profile: 1,390 Km
    • USMC/RN Mission Profile: 1,100 Km

• • Ferry: ? Km

• Wing loading: Kg/m&sup2
• Thrust/weight ratio:

• Armament:
  • 20 mm M61A-2 cannon, or 27 mm Mauser BK-27 cannon
  • Internal: 6 AMRAAM AAMs or
  • Internal: 2 AMRAAM AAMs and 2 x 2,000lb (900 Kg) class guided bombs
  • External: Approx. 15,000 lb (6,800 Kg) of full range of external stores including

guided weapons, anti-radiation missile, air-to-surface weapons, auxillary fuel tanks

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Designation Series	X-29 - X-30 - X-31 - X-32 - X-33 - X-34 - X-35
Related Lists	List of experimental aircraft

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