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Journal article "Aerospace" Michael Nicholas
F/A-18E/F " Super Hornet ".
In over 16 years since adopting a fighter - bomber, F -18, he seemed to maturing child, regularly gaining weight. Western journalists are meticulously calculated: the average weight gain was kilogram per week. Additional weight accounted for mainly by the various electronic systems, while the thrust remained the same. In the long term, "maturing" of the plane has pledged to continue. With such growth, according to representatives of the Navy, the balance between the mass of the fighter - bomber and its performance characteristics will be destroyed by 2001 issue of cardinal modernization of the airframe and powerplant aircraft got an edge at the end of the 0-s. Development version, designated F / A -18 E / F "Super Hornet", took place at the troubled period of American naval aviation, and in it, like a drop of water, reflected in determining the impact of policies on the development of military technology in general. In July of 1987. The Pentagon released the requirements for the "interim" fighter-bomber, the main tactical fighter plane was supposed to be the marine version of NATF ( NAVY ATF ) aircraft ATF (promising tactical fighter), and shock - "stelsoobrazny" A-12. In the role of "intermediate" cars sailors saw modernized: F / A -18 or F -16, since neither the A-12 or NATFcould not be taken into service before the beginning of 21 century. Response to the firm McDonnell Douglas on the request of the Ministry of Defence has become deeply modified F / A -18 "Configurations IV ", also known as the Hornet 2000. The project involved an increase in the geometric dimensions of the fuselage, wing and installing more powerful than GTE General Electric F 404 engines. The most important thing - to change the aerodynamic configuration machine. Hornet 2000 "was designed on a" duck "with a front horizontal tail. The project continued until 1990. While in the Navy not begun a large-scale audit of all aircraft programs. Revision of this was directly linked to the changing political situation in the world caused by the collapse of the Soviet military power, and as a consequence, a reduction in military spending. Was lucky F / A -18. First, it was announced to replace the NATF on F -14 D, and A-12 - upgraded A-6 F . Shortly reviewed and the plan: in 1992. Air Force and Navy preferred a multi-purpose A / F - X - development NATF (the program also "rested in a Bose") at the same time develop a modernized version of the F / A -18 did not stop. The military insisted on as soon adopting improved "Hornet" and rejected "Configuration IV", as too ambitious. Prior to June 1992. coordination of the project proceeded, eventually settled on an enlarged version of the F / A -18 C / D ; this approach promised to save time and money. An alternative to the "Super Hornet" was a program of modernization of F -14, which at all levels of managers of firms have lobbied Grumman. Product selection McDonnell Douglas explained, first of all, lower cost of upgrading and less technical risk. The final program for the development of aviation, the Pentagon in 1993., Provides for three major projects - F -22, JSF (See "Aerospace" № 10 of 1998.) and F / A -18 E / F . Future carrier air wing will be built around aircraft F / A -18 E / F and JSF . Navy planned to transfer 1000 "Super Hornet" in 1997. their number was reduced to 548, with the caveat of increasing the number of aircraft planned to be built to 748 in case of delays in implementing the program of the aircraft JSF (if it does not go into service in 2008).. For the construction of the Super Hornet aircraft factory in St. Louis was specially organized a new assembly line. Rolled out the first prototype F / A -18 E / F took place on 18 September 1995. and 29 November the same year he made the first flight. And in February 1996. aircraft was transferred to Naval Air Test Center in Patuksen River. In a three-year test program involved seven vehicles: five single F / A -18 E , and two twin F / A -18 F , they all came in Patuksen River in 1996. Aircraft obletyvali ten test pilots: the five "branded" and five soldiers. It is expected that the first unit of the Navy, equipped with the Super Hornet, reach a state of initial operational capability in 2001. (It is interesting to note that the first squadron, an armed F -22, will be able to conduct combat operations in 2004. so that the rejection of the NAT option F was not due to time of acceptance into service or technical reasons, and financial savings in addition to the traditional "friendship" Air Force and Navy). The appearance of F / A -18 E / F will allow the Navy to reduce the diverse nature of the park decked aircraft. Provided for in the first quarter of XXI century, all decked airplane wings (multiple, high shock and impact of long-range) lead to new types of formulations: one fighter squadron VF (aircraft JSF ), three fighter-bomber VFA (planes F / A -18 E / F , and one - providing aircraft and AWACS aircraft. Total - 70 aircraft, 38 of them - multi-role fighter, "Super Hornet", which will be in service at least until 2020 Wing area F / A -18 E / F increased by 25% (up to 46 m 2 ) as a result, despite an increase in weight of the aircraft, managed to reduce the stall speed and landing speed reduced by 18 km / h.Larger wingspan allowed to establish two additional under wing pylons for suspension of arms.The total payload weight placed on six under-wing and three ventral hardpoints is 8050kg (increased by 20% compared with a variant of C / D ). The new, thicker and rigid wing is performed using geometric ledge on the front edge. Such a wing has F / A-18 A / B, but model C / D used without wing ledge. Horizontal tail area increased by 36% and amounts to 11.16 m 2 .The area of vertical tail - 15% (5.58 m ). The design is more fins (54%) of the area rudders, rudder deflection angles increased from 30 gr. to 40 oz. And increased inflows of wing area. The increase in weight and size of the airframe has led to an increase in the moments of inertia of the "Super Hornet" on all three axes, so in order to maintain maneuverability of the fighter-bomber at the F / A -18 C / D developers have increased the speed deviations of all control surfaces, for which the working fluid pressure in hydraulic system increased from 210 to 350 kg / cm 2 . In order to improve stability and controllability of aircraft at high angles of attack in the fade wing root made holes for the bypass air flow. Holes are automatically opened when a given angle of attack. The results of wind tunnel tests were talking about that whirlwind, flows from the bottom surface of the upper, substantially increases the efficiency of vertical tail while flying at low speeds and high angles of attack, reducing bafting. However, flight tests have shown that purging results were overly optimistic, and the serial F / A -18 E / F cross-cutting "holes" in the fade, will not be obvious. At the same time deflected by the upper surface - the openings in the spoilers will fade and will act as air brakes, because in order to reduce the weight of the glider on the "Super Hornet" opt-out from the air brake a large area, located on previous versions of the F / A -18 between keels. Also spoilers are used to generate vortices and increase the effectiveness of pitch control at high angles of attack. Large approximately 25% the size of F / A -18 E / F - compared to previous versions of the F / A -18 motivated by a desire to increase the range of aircraft and its payload mass. By increasing the internal volume of the airframe capacity fuel tanks "Super Hornet" 33% higher than the "Hornet." Moreover, due to higher landing gear, it was possible to suspend the central ventral pylon fuel tank capacity 1800 liters. while at the F / A-18 used a suspended fuselage tanks capacity 1250 liters. The total mass of fuel F / A -18 E / F with five outboard tanks is 14 tons, it can be used as a tanker instead of CA-6. wing fuel tanks filled poroplastom with reduced density (compared to the aggregate of the previous Hornet), which helps reduce fuel leakage through the holes in the tanks. As a result of increased fuel has increased the range of the "Super Hornet" - one of the critical parameters of ship-based aircraft. When escorting strike aircraft radius is greater than the radius of the F / A -18 to 26% and is 780 km. When using the aircraft for attacks on ground targets (optional suspension - three drop tanks and four 450-kg bombs), its range has increased to 940 km (38% vs. F / A-18C) in the case of flight profile big - small - small height ; in flight only at medium and high altitudes, its radius is increased to 1180km (increased by 35%). underwent a major modernization of flight control system. On the F / A -18 E / F uses a digital electro-distance SAU with quadruple redundancy, developed by Lockheed-Martin, from a backup mechanical system installed on the model C / D , completely abandoned, cable wiring is preserved only in the mechanism of seed release hook. Using a fully electronic control system has reduced reserve of static stability, keep maneuvering characteristics at the level of smaller weight and dimensions of F / A-18 the previous versions. New FBWCS along with aerodynamic improvements allow F / A -18 E / F angle of attack maneuver with 40 gr. In the event of failure or damage control system components and control surfaces FBWCS "reconfigured" without interference from the pilot to compensate for the faulty nodes. Thus, when damage to one managed by the stabilizers, they are without the intervention of a pilot set in a neutral position, and pitch control by means other aerodynamic surfaces. More complex FBWCS consumes more power, so the number of sources of electricity had increased from three to nine. The most conspicuous external differences "Super Hornet" from the simple rectangular air intakes are having a large cross-sectional area compared with semicircular air intakes F / A -18 C / D .Application of new air intakes caused by installing new engines on the aircraft, for work which requires more oxygen. Intakes of this type also can extend the allowable range of angles of attack. Pelton air intakes give a stronger reflection of electromagnetic radiation of radar, but the representatives of the Navy and the Boeing Company believes that in this case the reduction of radar signatures - not the point, noting at the same time that the diamond-shaped cross-section air duct reduces the reflection of electromagnetic waves. In addition, the channel itself somewhat curved in two planes - there is a hint of S -imagery, characteristic of the air channels stealth aircraft, and in the channel before the compressor blades are placed radial plates, scatter radiation, reflected by the compressor. Decrease in the EPR aircraft as a whole promotes the use of absorbing coatings in the casing air intakes, their channels and the front of the fuselage, as well as the sawtooth edge of wings niches main landing gear and gold plating the cockpit canopy. We can assume that the F / A -18 E / F developers tried to maximize introduce elements of technology Stella C "with minimal changes in the aircraft structure, with the main emphasis was on reducing the radar visibility in the forward hemisphere. As a result of these improvements, the EPR "Super Hornet" even decreased in comparison with the F / A -18 C / D , although the dimensions of the airframe has increased significantly. If we exclude the air intakes and a number of smaller differences, it seems that the E / F is a scale enlarged with / D . According to representatives of the Boeing Company, the construction of the "Super Hornet" refreshed by 90%. Glider has been radically redesigned to reduce its weight. Using the CM has doubled, construction of composites make up 22% by weight of airframe, and apply more rigid and durable material IM 7/977-3; at the same time, the use of aluminum alloys decreased from 50% in the construction of F / A -18 C / D to 29%, the F / A -18 E / F . Aluminum made: the forward fuselage, wing and aileron nodules: of KM - the central and rear fuselage, fins, wing and stabilizer.Power frame with mounts for fenders F / A -18 C / D are made of aluminum alloy. Operating experience of these aircraft modifications strength of attachment found to be insufficient. On the F/ A -18 E / F frame is made of titanium. Recognized as insufficient and strength landing gear "Hornet", the "Super Hornet" rack supports are made of steel alloy Aermet 100 . Instead alloy 3OOM. Aermet alloy 100 has greater strength and was first used in aircraft construction. Due to increased landing gear in particular, and the aircraft structure as a whole, upgraded fighter-bomber has a maximum landing weight to 4100 kg more than the F / A -18 C / D . Aircraft Option C / D can land on an aircraft carrier, with suspension arms on a weight not exceeding 700kg, while the E / F can carry up to 2200kg, which allows him if necessary to make a landing with two 9OO - kg prospective controlled bomb, JSOW . On the F / A -18 E / F could dramatically reduce the amount of construction sites, reduce time and cost of processing and assembly of individual components and the airframe as a whole through the use of large parts. The design of model C / D ) consists of 14,100 nodes, and the construction of E / F - only from 8100, more than halved the number of nodes of the wing and tail surfaces, a power forward fuselage frame is made of monobloc place team, consisting of 90 items, applicable to F / A -18 C / D ; threefold reduced number of parts in the design of sag of the wing. The wing spar has one less and less and became the ribs. The process of "facilitation" construction proceeded very well. So, for a given specification Empty weight imposed on the flight tests, in 13860kg, the first prototype F / A -18 E / F had the actual mass to 450kg less - a rare event in aviation history. The Super Hornet has two engines General Electric F 414, developed on the basis applied to theF / A-18 turbojet bypass F 404. To some extent F '414 is an enlarged F 404, along with those used in its design solutions, tested the promising engine GE YF 120, designed for installation on fighters, and turbofan F 412, developed for unobtrusive attack aircraft A-12. turbofans Power F414 increased by 35% relative to the engine F 404-400, applied to the fighter- bombers, F / A-18A / B, and 25%, than the turbofan F 404-402 aircraft F / A 18C / D ). afterburner engine with little or no change is borrowed from the YF -120. nozzle F 404. Manage engines by using dual-channel digital control system FADEC . Improvement of fighters in recent years, primarily aimed at modernizing the avionics. However, in the case of F / A -18 E / F Americans went to a special way. Not saving for revision of airframe and engines, they have decided to reduce the cost of upgrading on-board electronics. Radical renewal of the avionics will be conducted in stages, starting from 2005. on the "Super Hornet" already are in service. Software systems, F / A -18 E / F is 90% similar to programs used on theF / A -18 C / D . It is significant that the greatest change the software flight control system (only 67% identical to the set on the F / A -18 C / D ). Starting in 1994. PA aircraft F / A -18 C / Dstarted to put the radar APG -73 - improved version of the radar APG -65. Both stations have the same antenna with mechanical scanning, but on the radar a PG -73 installed receiver module, allows to work with an antenna with electronic scanning. In the future, provided such equipment radar antenna. In addition, the signal processing system of the modernized station uses a processor with higher performance and increased memory capacity. In the spirit of the latest aviation fashion changes in instrumentation cabin. In the top center of the dashboard instead of electromechanical indicators with belt scales installed monochrome multifunction LCD display size 75h130mm. On it displays an image from the radar or infrared night vision systems and data of the navigation system, a system identification "friend or foe, radio communication equipment and apparatus EW. Side square 130-mm multi-purpose indicators identical set in the cockpit F / A -18 C / D mean the same square indicator is replaced by a larger - sized 160x160 mm - color LCD display, which is used to display maps. In addition, instead of segmented indicator that displays the work of propulsion and fuel consumption, installed programmable monochrome LCD screen size 75h130 mm. Information on it appears in a graphic, not digital, as earlier form. Since 2001. instead of hanging-IR survey of the forward hemisphere AA S -38 "Night Hawk" onF / A -18 E / F will be used by prospective container ATFLIR . It is planned to update the system and electronic warfare, in the long term F / A -18 E / F will receive an integrated defensive electronic warfare complex IDECM . EW system includes a receiver ALR -67 ( V ) 3, a warning about electromagnetic radiation, a subsystem jamming ALQ -214 and towed decoyALE -55. Devices ALQ -214 and ALE -55 are currently under development; before making their planes into service F / A -18 E / F will be equipped with towed false targets AN / ALE -50.Six blocks AN / ALE 47, disposable IR-traps (20 traps in the block) mounted on the bottom of the fuselage between the engine nacelles (in F / A -18 C / D established four such units). Opportunity to further modernize the avionics is provided at the design stage "Super Hornet". In the airframe are unused until the volumes intended for the installation of electronic components and electrical system and cooling system has excess capacity. According to representatives of the company Boeing, the area of unprotected surface F / A -18 E/ F decreased to 13% compared with 25% for F / A -18C / D . Along with the new fuel tank filler improve combat survivability promotes mounted at the bottom of the fuselage in the zone of hydraulic lines and electrical flight control system equipment fire using a "passive" foam and inert gas. Extinguishing system is triggered automatically upon receipt of signals from the sensors. At the armed fighter-bomber includes SD air-to-air AI M-9 "Saydvinder", AI M-7 "Sparrow" and the AI M-120 AMRAAM anti-ship missiles, "Harpoon" anti-radar missiles AGM -88HARM prospective planning guided bombs JSOW and JDAM . On the basis of two-seater version of the F / A -18 F provides for the establishment EW aircraft designed to replace the EA-6 B . Changes to the F / A -18 CW will be minimal - on the underwing pylons instead of the arms are suspended containers with electronic equipment.
Features multi-deck fighter F / A -18 E / F
Wingspan SD "Sidewinder" at the ends, m 11.43 Wingspan folded consoles, 9.32 m Length, m 18.31 Height, m 4.88 Wing area, sq ft 46.45 Empty weight, kg 13387 Maximum takeoff weight, kg 29937 Mass of fuel in internal tanks, kg 6531 Mass of fuel in the PTB, kg 4436 The maximum (estimated) mass of weapons, 8,051 kg Engines 2 x turbofans F 414 - GE -400 Thrust, kg 2 x 10000 Maximum load on the wing, kg / m 620.0 Maximum speed at sea level 1.8m Stalling speed, km / h 232 Service ceiling, m 15,240 Combat radius: with four 450-kg bombs, two SD "Sidewinder", the two PTB to 1818 liters and two containers with the sighting and navigation equipment the profile of "small-small, high altitude, 722 km with two SD- AMRAAM and two SD "Sidewinder" by escorting attack aircraft, 760 km Duration patrol at the turn of 278 km with six SD air-to-air missiles and three drop tanks with a capacity of 1,818 liters, 2.25 h
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7 January 2007 |
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