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)
- 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
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