FORT WORTH, Texas,
March 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Cooperative
Avionics Test Bed, a modified 737 designed to validate the F-35 Lightning
II's(TM) avionics suite, flew today from Mojave, Calif., to
Lockheed Martin's
(NYSE: LMT)
Fort Worth plant to prepare for airborne mission systems testing
later this year. The Lightning II's avionics package will be the most
advanced, comprehensive and powerful of any fighter in the world.
"The arrival in Fort Worth of the Cooperative Avionics Test Bed, or
'CATBird,' aircraft is a defining moment for the F-35(TM) program," said Doug
Pearson, Lockheed Martin vice president of the F-35 Integrated Test Force. "It
is a visible symbol of the progress we have made as a team and moves us one
step closer to delivering war-fighting capability to our customers."
The CATBird will integrate and validate the performance of all F-35 sensor
systems before they are flown on the first Lightning II aircraft.
"Today's milestone initiates a phase of unprecedented integrated avionics
test capability," said Eric Branyan, Lockheed Martin vice president of F-35
Mission Systems. "The rigorous testing performed on board the CATBird will
ensure that mature functionality is delivered to the F-35 Lightning II."
During the second-phase modifications in Fort Worth, the F-35 team will
install test stations in the main cabin, and instrumentation to monitor and
measure the in-flight performance of various installed sensors. Workers also
will complete the installation of electrical and cooling support systems. The
CATBird will incorporate a high-fidelity F-35 cockpit that will enable pilots
to operate and monitor the fighter's integrated sensor suite in an airborne
environment.
Major physical modifications to the CATBird were made in Mojave by BAE
Systems, with support from Lockheed Martin. Changes to the aircraft included
modifying the nose of the 737 to replicate the F-35, the addition of a 13-foot
canard to emulate the F-35 wing, the addition of external structure on top and
bottom to hold F-35 avionics equipment, and the installation of about 1,500
wiring harnesses to connect and link the various mission system sensors.
Lockheed Martin is developing the F-35 Lightning II with its principal
industrial partners, Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems. Two separate,
interchangeable F-35 engines are under development: the Pratt & Whitney F135
and the GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team F136.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 140,000
people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design,
development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology
systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2006 sales of $39.6
billion.
F-35 and Lightning II are trademarks of Lockheed Martin Corporation.
For additional information, visit our Web site:
http://www.lockheedmartin.com
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