Mk16 Ejection Seat for F-35

US16E Ejection Seat for F-35

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. You can find more information on the JSF Programme here.

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US16E Ejection Seat for F-35

Operating Ceiling: 50,000ft (15,250m)
Minimum height/Speed: Zero/zero in near level attitude
Crew boarding mass range: 103 to 245lb (nude) light crew switch fitted with mass boundary set at 150lbs
Crew size range: JPATS multi-variate body size cases 1-8
Maximum Speed for ejection: 600 KEAS
Parachute type: IGQ Type 6000 aeroconical 4-colour
Parachute deployment: Cartridge initiated
Drogue parachute: Yes
Drogue deployment: Cartridge initiated
Harness type: MG5 Integrated
Ejection seat operation type: Catapult and underseat rocket motor
Ejection gun: Twin catapult
Ejection initiation: Handle on seat bucket initiates gas operated seat firing system
Automatic back-up unit: Yes, mechanical system with barostatic time-release
Electronic sequencer: Martin-Baker Sequencer (MBS) 23,500/18,000ft altitude switch, powered by thermal batteries
Timers: Time delays imposed by sequencer and ABU
Seat adjustment: Up/down actuator operated 28 Vdc with 7.4″ stroke
Arm restraints: Yes, active system
Leg restraints: Yes, passive system
Oxygen supply: Bottled back-up/emergency oxygen, connection to On Board Oxygen Generating System (OBOGS)
Seat Survival Kit (SSK): Yes + automatic deployment and liferaft inflation
Aircrew services: Connection to main oxygen supply, mic/tel, anti-g, thermal cooling
Canopy jettison: No
Canopy fracturing system: Yes
Interseat Sequencing System (ISS): N/A
Auto eject system: Active on STOVL variant only

US16E Ejection Seat for F-35

Featured in:

F-35 Lightning II (All variants)

US16E Ejection Seat for F-35

Seat firing handle pulled, centrale initiates Rigid Hermetic
Transmission Chain (RHTC)
Command firing initiated
Harness power retraction unit retracts shoulder straps
Canopy fractured by canopy pyrotechnic cutting system
Primary cartridge fires, bottom latches engage, top latches disengage seat rises up rails
Aircraft services disconnected
Emergency oxygen supplied to aircrew
Legs and arms restrained
IFF tripped
Secondary cartridges fire as seat rises
Multi-purpose initiators fire
Mechanical Mode Selector (MMS), Barostatic Time-Release Unit (BTRU) and Drogue Deployment Unit Timer (DDUT) sears tripped
Underseat and lateral rocket motors fire
Leg restraint lines become taut and rivets shear, freeing lines from floor brackets
Aerodynamic surfaces deploy
Drogue deployment unit fires after delay
Time delays initiated for MMS and BTRU
Manual Override (MOR) lock disengaged