|
O
ne of the most significant Glenair Fiber Optic
success story is the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter
(JSF) in development for the US Air Force, Navy
and Marine Corps, as well as the UK Royal Navy.
Led by Lockheed Martin, with international partners
that include Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems,
General Electric, Rolls-Royce, Hamilton Sundstrand,
Vision Systems, Harris Advanced Avionic Systems,
Honeywell, Moog and others,
the JSF is being built in three forms:
conventional takeoff,
carrier take-off, and
short take-off and vertical
landing. These fighter jets feature
some of the world’s most sophisticated
and complicated systems for avionics,
communications, navigation,
targeting, countermeasures, and
helmet display.
Glenair has considerable
interconnect content designed
into the JSF, including many
backshells, connectors and cable
assemblies. But most relevant
to this story is Glenair’s High-Reliability Fiber Optic Technology
serving the new JSF.
Fighter plane conditions
are severe, and Glenair
Fiber Optic products are well
suited for the circumstances.
Temperature shifts of +125°C
in deserts to -65°C at 30,000 feet within
only a few minutes, call for high-reliability
solutions. Weight limits and tight spaces
for components within the wing, tail
and cockpit dictate small, lightweight and
compact packaging. Glenair MIL-DTL-38999 style
tight-tolerance f ibe r optic connectors in lightweight,
but extremly rugged, composite thermoplastic are a perfect match for these
temperature and restricted space requirements. Electromagnetic compatibility
was specified because placement and routing put electronics near magnetic
interference generators such as engines and high-frequency computer equipment.
Glenair Fiber Optic technology, immune from electromagnetic interference, is
ideal for these EMI environments. Reliability is also crucial.As the JSF is
a single-seat aircraft, the flawless performance of the interconnect system
is vitally important to help the pilot carry out his or her mission.
Early in the JSF program, fiber optic interconnection was handled by modifying
MIL-DTL-38999 electrical connectors for use with fiber optic contacts. Higher
bandwidth and tighter tolerance requirements drove Glenair to develop specific
MIL-DTL-38999 style fiber optic connectors with tighter dimensional control
of connector keys and keyways and other dimensional stability needs of fiber.
The Glenair MIL-DTL-38999 style connector established true positioning of
cavities with extremely accurate termini retention clip location.
The JSF uses
Glenair MIL-DTL-38999 style tight-tolerance fiber optic connectors (well over
100 part numbers in this connector family are available for immediate shipment
from our Same Day Inventory program), and Glenair MIL-Qualified
29504/4 and /5 termini (these MIL-Qualified termini and their COTS equivalent
part numbers are also available from our Same Day Inventory program).
Glenair-built fiber optic cables connect critical systems throughout the
Joint Strike Fighter.
To keep these fiber cable assemblies and other fiber
lines running at top performance, regular testing is required. The standard
way to test for contamination or scratches on fiber end faces and termini is
to use a complicated test harness. This testing process can be time-consuming
and expensive. Thanks to Glenair’s Test Probes, Adaptors, Calibrators, and
Handheld Inspection Systems, all in use on JSF, evaluation of fiber and
termini condition can be handled on the plane instead of in the lab or back
at the factory. Cables are tested and cleaned in place, saving hours of
removal and reinstallation time.
Glenair is proud to have been chosen to
"light up" the Joint Strike Fighter with our extensive family of fiber optic
connectors, termini, cables, and test equipment.
Many front-line fighter
aircraft are now integrating fiber optic media into their avionic, flight
control and computer systems. The advantages include EMI immunity and of
course reduced size and weight. The ability to more easily accomodate future
bandwidth requirements as well as the ability to incorporate redundant fibers
for improved safety and reliability are important additional consideration.
Glenair is the only manufacturer of tactical fiber optic interconnect systems
to commit resources to produce such a broad spectrum of connection systems,
backshell accessories and assembly tooling. The high-reliability interconnect
systems we produced for the Joint Strike Fighter exactly meet the
requirements of the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Marines as well as the U.K.
Royal Navy. They also demonstrate Glenair's capability to "over-serve" our
customers with outstanding product designs, customer service and
product availability.
| |
Glenair QwikConnect Navigator |
|
|
|
|
|
