Martin-Baker was awarded the NACES contract by the US Navy in May 1985. The intent of the programme was to develop a high performance, high technology ejection seat which would integrate with several aircraft types, thus providing a significant commonality benefit for the customer. The first production standard NACES flew in an F-14D in February 1990, and since then almost 2000 seats have been delivered to the US Navy, most of which are now in service. Deliveries continue at a regular rate each month to support overseas sales of the F-18 and the new variant of super Hornet.
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Specifications
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NACES - F/A18C F/A18D
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Operating ceiling
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50 000 ft (15,250 m)
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Minimum height/speed
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Zero/zero in near level attitude
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Crew boarding mass range
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NACES original - 79.1 to 117.4 kg
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NACES P3I - 62.7 to 131.7
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Crew size range
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NACES original - 3rd to 98th percentile
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NACES P3I - JPATS muti-variate body size
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cases 1 to 7
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Maximum Speed for ejection
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600 KIAS
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Parachute type
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GQ Type 5000
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Parachute deployment
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Rocket assisted
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Drogue parachute type
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57 in. (1.45 m) ribbon drogue
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Drogue deployment
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Drogue deployment catapult. Powered by
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cartridge generated gas. Initiated by electrical
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signal from sequencer
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Harness type
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Torso
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Ejection seat operation type
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Ejection gun and multi-tube rocket pack
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incorporating lateral thrust rocket motor
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Ejection gun
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Single with secondary cartridge
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Ejection initiation
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Handle on seat pan initiates gas operated seat
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firing system
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Automatic back-up unit
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Barostatic time-release unit (BTRU) provides
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backup in the event of sequencer failure
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Manual override handle
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Yes
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Timers
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Yes
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Seat adjustment
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Up/down Actuator operated 28 Vdc
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Arm restraints
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No
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Leg restraints
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Yes, four garters
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Oxygen supply
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Bottled emergency oxygen (attached to survival pack)
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Personal survival pack
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Yes
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Aircrew services
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Connection to main oxygen supply, mic/tel,
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anti-g supply, vent air.
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Command ejection
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Yes
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Canopy jettison
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No
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Miniature detonating cord
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Yes
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Seat firing handle pulled/command ejection initiated
Harness retraction unit operated
Canopy jettisons/fractures
Thermal batteries activate
Catapult initiates
Ballistic latches close, retaining multi-purpose initiator lanyard end fittings
Seat moves up rails, top latch released, secondary cartridge fires when uncovered
Emergency oxygen activates
Radio beacon activates
Command system quick-disconnect and seat services disconnect
Legs restrained, leg lines disconnected from aircraft
Multi-purpose initiators operate firing mechanisms
- Start switches close, electronic sequencer timing commences
- Barostatic release unit (BTRU) initiated
- Pitot heads deploy
- Underseat rocket motor fires
Drogue deployment catapult fires, deploying drogue
Low speed, low altitude
- Drogue released
- Parachute deployment rocket fires
Medium and high speed, low altitude/all speeds, medium altitude
- Drogue stabilising and retarding seat
- Parachute deployment rocket fires
- Drogue released
All speeds, high altitude
- Drogue stabilising and retarding seat
- At pre-determined altitude, drogue is released and parachute deployment rocket fires
(BTRU operates to provide backup if sequencer fails, manual override also available)
Harness to seat connections release
Parachute inflates, lifts aircrew and survival kit from seat and pulls sticker clips from clips causing aircrew and seat to diverge
Parachute deployment rocket clears area
Aircrew descends on parachute, survival kit retained
Manual deployment of survival pack during descent if required
- Falling to end of dropline causes automatic inflation of liferaft
Survival kit retained until water entry
- Manual initiation of liferaft inflation