F-35 Carrier Suitability Testing

Carrier suitability is a multidiscipline specialization of aircraft test and evaluation. The discipline combines theories from aircraft loads, flying qualities, and performance in a system of systems approach to assess the suitability of an aircraft to operate from ships and austere sites. Additionally, navigation and guidance, sensor integration, data link interoperability, pilotvehicle interface, supportability, and maintainability are evaluated to ensure the aircraft is capable of operating as a system within a system. This paper will provide an introduction to carrier suitability flight test of the F-35C, a carrier-based, multirole, 5th-Generation stealth fighter to be used by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. Topics will include a discussion of the shore-based testing prerequisites and results, an overview of the challenges experienced with the original tailhook and its redesign, and the use of autopilot functionality in shore-based testing. This will be followed by an examination of the necessity to test in the shipboard environment, a discussion of shipboard testing, shipboard catapult and arrested landing methods of test and results. Throughout, an investigation on how advanced approach mode control laws used for shipboard landings were implemented, the results from three ship trials, and the implications to future operations will be analyzed.