Military Branch Re-initiates Bidding for F-16's Advanced Ejection System
Loose Cannon Assistance:
The Air Force is shaking things up once again, giving ejection seat vendors another shot at claiming the throne for a new generation seat for the ol' F-16. They're still hitching their star to Collins Aerospace for the F-15, but are keeping their options wide open for the F-16 - and potentially the F-22 and B-1 too.
This latest move was announced on December 20, just four months after they first cracked the door open with a "sources sought synopsis." Now, they'll be teaming up with Collins on a new seat for the F-15 while rooting through other viable options for the F-16.
Back in October 2019, the Air Force had planned to hand over a sole-source contract to Collins for the swanky new ACES 5 ejection seat, declaring it as the only cat in town to meet their minimum requirements for the NGES program [1]. In 2020, they inked a $700 million deal with Collins for the F-15 fleet, and initially looked to kit out the rest of the Air Force fighters with the ACES 5, except the F-35, along with the B-1 [2].
But now, with dust gathering on the ACES 5, the Air Force is ready to issue a revised acquisition strategy for the F-16 and F-22 [3], starting with the F-16. Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology, and logistics Andrew Hunter explained the decision, stating, "By reassessing market conditions and fostering competition, we ensure industry delivers the best possible solutions for both current and future Air Force requirements."
The Air Force's main adversary in the ejection seat arena is none other than Martin-Baker, the sole manufacturer of ejection seats for Air Force planes apart from Collins. Martin-Baker's seats are currently in action on the F-35, T-6, T-38, and A-29 [1], and its latest model, the US18E, is being installed on brand-spanking new Block 70 F-16 fighters, built by Lockheed Martin for foreign buddies [4]. This means that the US18E has been given the green light to save the day in case ejection becomes necessary.
In response to the Air Force's invocation for fresh proposals, Martin-Baker will put its toes in the water for the F-16's NGES opportunity and flaunt the US18E [4].
Collins, on the other hand, has a longstanding reputation as a trusted partner on Air Force missions, with its ACES II ejection seat flying high on the F-15, F-16, F-22, B-1, and T-7 Red Hawk trainer. The ACES II was first developed in the '70s, but has undergone a fair share of updates and modifications over the years [5]. While the seat has managed to hold its own due to the hard work and innovation of its creators, new technologies have emerged that can better protect pilots and aircrew from the mincing machine that is ejection and the subsequent freefall [5].
Additionally, Collins' ACES 5 is geared to make improvements in these areas and, if chosen, would replace the ACES II seats [5].
- In the ongoing competition for Air Force ejection seats, Collins Aerospace and Martin- Baker are the prominent contenders, with Collins' ACES II installed on various aircraft like the F-15, F-16, F-22, B-1, and T-7 Red Hawk, and Martin-Baker's US18E currently in use on the F-35, T-6, T-38, A-29, and new Block 70 F-16 fighters.
- With the Air Force's recent call for fresh proposals, Martin-Baker plans to pitch their US18E seat for the F-16's Next Generation Ejection System (NGES) opportunity.
- The Air Force, seeking to foster innovation and competition, is revising its acquisition strategy for the F-16 and F-22, starting with the F-16, and is looking beyond Collins Aerospace for viable options.
- Space Force, an anticipatory branch of the U.S military focused on space operations, is also featured in the broader context of aerospace technology, as technological advancements in this domain can potentially impact the design and performance of aircraft and their associated systems, including ejection seats.
