Mk18 - US18E

Ejection Seat
for F-16

Competitively selected by Lockheed Martin

Commonality with the US16E in the F-35 JSF

Mk18 - US18E

Ejection Seat
for F-16

Competitively selected by Lockheed Martin

Commonality with the US16E in the F-35 JSF

Lockheed Martin selected the US18E Ejection Seat for the F-16 Block 70/72 aircraft in November 2020 to replace the legacy seat. The US18E is entirely based on the US16E that is installed in the Lockheed Martin F-35 aircraft with over 1100 seats manufactured and 7 lives saved to date.

Following qualification in 2023, the US18E will provide the following advantages over the legacy seat:

  • Wider nude weight range from 103lbs to 245lbs;
  • Wider accommodation range from the CAESAR multivariate Case 1 to the 95%ile – making it Gender neutral;
  • Safe ejection for aircrew equipped with a Helmet Mounted Display (HMD) across the size and speed ranges;
  • The Martin-Baker Electronic sequencer is fitted together with a mechanical automatic backup unit for redundancy;
  • The modular seat design will reduce the need for canopy removals, significantly reducing operator maintenance hours;
  • Commonality of parts, support equipment and procedures with the F-35/US16E ensuring logistic support for many decades to come;
  • Martin-Baker manufactures its own CAD/PAD with shorter lead times than operators currently experience for the legacy seat.

Gallery

Lockheed Martin selected the US18E Ejection Seat for the F-16 Block 70/72 aircraft in November 2020 to replace the legacy seat. The US18E is entirely based on the US16E that is installed in the Lockheed Martin F-35 aircraft with over 1100 seats manufactured and 7 lives saved to date.

Following qualification in 2023, the US18E will provide the following advantages over the legacy seat:

  • Wider nude weight range from 103lbs to 245lbs;
  • Wider accommodation range from the CAESAR multivariate Case 1 to the 95%ile – making it Gender neutral;
  • Safe ejection for aircrew equipped with a Helmet Mounted Display (HMD) across the size and speed ranges;
  • The Martin-Baker Electronic sequencer is fitted together with a mechanical automatic backup unit for redundancy;
  • The modular seat design will reduce the need for canopy removals, significantly reducing operator maintenance hours;
  • Commonality of parts, support equipment and procedures with the F-35/US16E ensuring logistic support for many decades to come;
  • Martin-Baker manufactures its own CAD/PAD with shorter lead times than operators currently experience for the legacy seat.

Gallery

Menu