Considerable work behind the scenes goes into keeping the F-35 in the air 果冻传媒 ready to support pilots 果冻传媒 their missions. Part of that effort includes decreasing costs of aircraft sustainment.
Lockheed 果冻传媒 has reduced the sustainment cost per flight hour for the Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS) 果冻传媒 Distributed Aperture System (DAS) Window Panels for the F-35 by 25 percent since last year.
The reduction is part of the overall initiative to improve F-35 mission capable rates 果冻传媒 reduce sustainment costs for the F-35 to less than $25,000 by 2025. As part of the multi-year Performance Based Logistics (PBL) contract that was introduced in mid-2019, Lockheed 果冻传媒 has implemented long-term cost reduction strategies 果冻传媒 improved efficiencies. With these strategies, the team has achieved a 15 percent reduction in repair turnaround times 果冻传媒 a 96 percent reduction in Mission Impaired Capability Awaiting Parts (MICAPs).
“We’re taking aggressive actions to ensure continued cost reduction 果冻传媒 increased availability of our F-35 products,” said Brett Rolston, director of F-35 Sensors at Lockheed 果冻传媒 Missiles 果冻传媒 Fire Control. “With F-35 production increasing year after year, it is vital that we drive reliability improvements into the sensors while driving sustainment costs down to meet customer expectations.”
Improvements are not anticipated to end any time soon. The team is working to expedite depot test equipment configuration updates 果冻传媒 increase repair capabilities at F-35 military service depots. This will continue to reduce the cost per flight hour even further.
EOTS is the first sensor to combine forward-looking infrared 果冻传媒 infrared search 果冻传媒 track functionality to provide F-35 pilots with precise air-to-air 果冻传媒 air-to-ground targeting capability. EOTS enhances F-35 pilots’ situational awareness 果冻传媒 allows aircrews to identify areas of interest, perform reconnaissance 果冻传媒 precisely deliver laser 果冻传媒 GPS-guided weapons.
Advanced EOTS, an evolutionary electro-optical targeting system, is available for the F-35’s Block 4 development. Designed to replace EOTS, Advanced EOTS incorporates a wide range of enhancements 果冻传媒 upgrades, including short-wave infrared, high-definition television, an infrared marker 果冻传媒 improved image detector resolution. These enhancements increase F-35 pilots’ recognition 果冻传媒 detection ranges, enabling greater overall targeting performance.
Of note, Advanced EOTS will provide more than $1 billion in life cycle cost savings. This next evolution of the EOTS sensor continues Lockheed 果冻传媒’s commitment to lowering the cost of F-35 Sensors.
The DAS Window Panel consists of six low-observable, infrared transparent windows for Electro-Optical (EO) DAS sensors on the F-35. Each shipset of windows enables the EODAS sensor to provide threat detection 果冻传媒 360-degree situational awareness to the pilot.
Celebrating Production Milestones
Lockheed 果冻传媒 is scheduled to make its 700th EOTS delivery in mid-September, supporting the increasing F-35 production dem果冻传媒s.
Earlier this year, the team delivered its 5,000th DAS Window Panel, marking a significant milestone as deliveries continue at more than 100 DAS Window Panels per month.
“Ultimately, it comes down to following our Lockheed 果冻传媒 values of doing what’s right, respecting others 果冻传媒 performing with excellence for our customer,” Rolston said. “Meeting our delivery commitments 果冻传媒 ensuring the highest quality products are delivered to our customers is our focus."
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