What We Do
US16E for F-35 Lightning II
The common ejection seat for all variants of the F-35 Lightning II
Neck Protection Device (NPD)
The NPD supports the neck and head during ejection. This has become necessary as helmets have increased in size and weight to accommodate helmet mounted displays (HMD).
MWARS
Martin-Baker Water Activated Release System (MWARS) automatically releases the Gen 5 integrated harness when landing in water, detaching the parachute.
Aircrew Services
Aircrew services on the US16E include the oxygen supply, anti-G, thermal cooling, in-helmet communications and the helmet mounted display (HMD).
Auto Eject
Active on only the STOVL variant of the F-35 (F-35B), auto eject will initiate if the lift fan fails.
US16E For F-35
Common to all variants of the F-35
Saved 8 lives to date
Successfully delivered over 1,000 US16E seats
The System Development & Demonstration (SDD) Ejection Seat, selected by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, is a further development of the Mk16 range that has already been successful with the T-6 Texan II, Eurofighter Typhoon, NASA T-38N and USAF T-38 upgrade programmes and other numerous aircraft platforms around the world.
The US16E Ejection Seat provides an unprecedented balanced optimisation 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.
The US16E is the only Qualified Ejection Seat that meets the US Government defined Neck Injury Criteria (NIC) across the pilot accommodation range.
Martin-Baker is very proud to support the F-35 Programme; the programme will sustain approximately 700 jobs at Martin-Baker into the future, also supporting 66 sub-tier suppliers located within 20 counties spread right across the UK.
To date, Martin-Baker has delivered over 130 Ejection Seats to Lockheed Martin, with LRIP V deliveries completed in October 2013. Ejection Seats for LRIP VI and VII have been launched into manufacture.
Aircraft fitted: F-35 Lightning II
| Operating ceiling | 50,000ft (15,250m) |
| Minimum height/speed | Zero-Zero in near level attitude |
| Crew size range | JPATS multi-variate body size cases 1-8 |
| Maximum speed for ejection | 600 KEAS |
| Parachute type | IGQ 6000 |
| Harness type | MG5 integrated |
| Ejection gun | Twin catapult |
| Automatic back-up unit | Yes |
| Electronic Sequencer | Yes |
| Seat adjustment | Yes |
| Arm restraint | Yes, active system |
| Leg restraint | Yes, passive system |
| Oxygen supply | Bottled back-up/emergency oxygen supply |
| Seat survival kit | Yes + automatic deployment and liferaft inflation |
| Aircrew services | Connection to main oxygen supply, mic/tel, anti-g, thermal cooling. Interface to helmet |
| Canopy jettison | No |
| Canopy fracture | Yes |
| Auto ejection system | Yes, active only on STOVL variant |
