DTN News: U.K. May Reconsider STOVL JSF For Conventional Ship Variant

DTN News: U.K. May Reconsider STOVL JSF For Conventional Ship Variant

*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) LONDON, U.K. - August 9, 2009: Media reports late last week that Britain may ditch the short-takeoff and vertical-landing variant of the Joint Strike Fighter in favor of the conventional carrier variant were not entirely dismissed by a Ministry of Defence statement, which appeared to leave the door ajar for a possible change of platform for the Royal Navy's new aircraft carriers. The F-35C carrier variant will have a larger, folding wing and larger control surfaces for improved low-speed control, and stronger landing gear for the stresses of carrier landings. The larger wing area allows for decreased landing speed, increased range and payload, with twice the range on internal fuel compared with the F/A-18C Hornet, achieving much the same goal as the heavier F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. "To maximize the flexibility that the carriers will offer over their service life, they are being built to an adaptable design that can operate both STOVL and CV type aircraft.

The QE Class are designed around the operation of the STOVL Joint Strike Fighter aircraft, and this remains our preferred solution to meet the UK's Carrier Strike requirement along with the Queen Elizabeth Class of carriers and the Maritime Airborne Surveillance Capability," the statement said. Britain has already ordered three STOVL F-35s for operational evaluation, but MoD insiders say there remains a school of thought among some in the ministry to look again at the CV aircraft.