Martin Baker - Ejection seat and escape system technology

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US16E - JSF

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RetroFit / Upgrades

overview | specifications | how it works | variants |

Overview

The System Development & Demonstration (SDD) ejection seat that was selected by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company is a further development of the Mk.16 range that has already been successful with the Raytheon Texan II (JPATS), the Eurofighter Typhoon, the NASA T-38N and USAF T-38 upgrade programs and other numerous aircraft platforms around the world.
The US16E seat design provides an unprecedented balanced optimization between key performance parameters such as safe terrain clearance limits, physiological loading limits, pilot boarding mass and anthropometric accommodation ranges to fully meet the F-35 Escape System requirements. The US16E will be common to all F-35 aircraft variants.

Martin-Baker and the Joint Strike Fighter Programme (PDF Format)
A History of the Joint Strike Fighter Programme (PDF Format)

Specifications

Specifications	US16E JSF

Operating ceiling	50 000 ft (15,250 m)
Minimum height/speed	Zero/zero in near level attitude
Crew boarding mass range	46.7 to 111.1 kg (nude)
Crew size range	JPATS multi-variate body size cases 1 - 8
Maximum Speed for ejection	600 KEAS
Parachute type	IGQ Type 6000 aeroconical 4-colour
Parachute deployment	Cartridge initiated
Drogue parachute	Yes
Drogue deployment	Cartridge initiated
Harness type	MG5 Integrated
Ejection seat operation type	Catapult and underseat rocket motor
Ejection gun	Twin catapult
Ejection initiation	Handle on seat pan initiates gas operated seat
	firing system
Automatic back-up unit	Yes, mechanical system with barostatic time-release
Electronic Sequencer	Yes, powered by thermal batteries
Timers	Time delays imposed by sequencer and ABU
Seat adjustment	Up/down actuator operated 28 Vdc with 7.4" stroke
	Fore/aft manual tilt mechanism adjustment
	Tilt mechanism enables installation to aircraft with
	different bulkhead configurations
Arm restraints	Yes, active system
Leg restraints	Yes, passive system
Oxygen supply	Bottled back-up/emergency oxygen
	Connection to main on board oxygen generation
	system (OBOGS)
Seat survival kit	Yes + automatic deployment and liferaft inflation
Aircrew services	Connection to main oxygen supply, mic/tel,
	anti-g, thermal cooling.
	Interface to helmet
Command ejection	N/A
Canopy jettison	No
Canopy fracturing system	Yes
Interseat sequencing system	N/A
Auto eject system	Active on STOVL variant only

How it works

Seat firing handle pulled/Auto eject initiated (STOVL only) causing seat initiation cartridges

to fire

Canopy fracturing initiated

Harness retraction unit operated

Thermal batteries initiated, sequencer powered up

Primary catapult cartridge fires

Top latches disengage

Seat moves up guide rails, secondary catapult cartridges fire

Back-up oxygen supply activated

IFF/Emergency location transmitter triggered

Automatic backup unit (ABU) initiated

Underseat rocket motor initiated

Leg and arm restraints operated

Start switches operated

End of catapult stroke

Backup oxygen supply continues

MODE 1
     - Drogue deployment unit operates
     - Sequencer commences environmental sensing
     - Sequencer commences parachute deployment time
     - Sequencer initiates parachute deployment
     - Lower bridle release cartridge fires, followed by upper bridle release cartridge releasing the

drogue parachute

- Backup oxygen supply continues

MODE 2
     - Drogue deployment unit operates
     - Sequencer senses conditions below 8000 ft between 175 - 240 KEAS
     - Sequencer initiates parachute deployment
     - Drogue stabilises and decelerates seat
   - Lower bridle release cartridge then upper bridle release cartridge fire after delay
       determined by airspeed releasing the drogue parachute
     - Backup oxygen supply continues

MODE 3
     - Sequencer senses conditions below 8000 ft above 240 KEAS
     - Drogue deployment unit operates
     - Drogue stabilises and decelerates seat
     - If airspeed safe, sequencer initiates parachute deployment
     - If airspeed unsafe, parachute deployment delayed for preset time
     - Lower bridle release cartridge fires after delay, pitches seat onto its back
     - Upper bridle release cartidge fires after delay releasing the drogue parachute
     - Backup oxygen supply continues

MODE 4
     - Sequencer senses conditions 8000 ft to 18000 ft above 155 KEAS
     - Drogue deployment unit operates
     - Drogue stabilises and decelerates seat
     - If airspeed safe, sequencer initiates parachute deployment
     - If airspeed unsafe, parachute deployment delayed for preset time
     - Lower bridle release cartridge fires after delay, pitches seat onto its back
     - Upper bridle release cartidge fires after delay releasing the drogue parachute
     - Backup oxygen supply continues

MODE 5
     - Drogue deployment unit operates
     - Sequencer senses high altitude
     - Sequencer selects high drogue mode
     - Drogue stabilises and decelerates seat
     - Sequencer computes parachute deployment time
     - Backup oxygen supply continues
     - Seat descends stabilised by drogue
     - Sequencer continues to sense altitude
     - Backup oxygen supply continues
     - At 18000ft sequencer initiates parachute deployment
     - Lower bridle release cartridge fires, followed by upper bridle release cartridge releasing the

drogue parachute
- Backup oxygen supply continues

Sequencer fires harness release cartridge

Upper and lower harness locks released

Negative-g lock released

Arm and leg restraint lines cut

Inflated parachute pulls aircrew from seat

Seat survival kit (SSK) released

Automatic liferaft inflation unit (ALIU), personal locator beacon and automatic deployment unit armed

Parachute container pulled clear by auxiliary drogue

Aircrew descends on parachute

SSK releases after delay, lowered below aircrew

Liferaft automatically inflated by ALIU when immersed in water

US16E - JSF

Mk 16 JSF Seat