The U.S. Air Force is restarting the competition to select a new ejection seat for its F-16 fighter fleet. This unexpected move comes after the service initially awarded a sole-source contract for the Next-Generation Ejection Seat (NGES) program to Collins Aerospace in 2020.
The decision to shift gears and reopen the competition stems from the emergence of new data, updated market research, and the evolving demands of modern air combat. The Air Force aims to harness the latest innovations in ejection seat technology to ensure the highest level of safety and survivability for its pilots.
“The decision to re-open the competition underscores our commitment to continually assess our strategies to ensure we meet warfighter needs and timelines,” said Andrew Hunter, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics. “By reassessing market conditions and fostering competition, we ensure industry delivers the best possible solutions for both current and future Air Force requirements”.
A new request for proposal will be released, inviting multiple companies to compete for the coveted NGES contract. Among the anticipated contenders is Martin-Baker, a renowned aerospace firm with a strong reputation for producing cutting-edge ejection seat. Martin-Baker’s offering, the US18E ejection seat, is purpose-built for the F-16 Block 70/72 aircraft. Lockheed Martin, manufacturer of the F-16, selected the US18E Ejection Seat in November 2020 to replace the legacy ACES II ejection seat for foreign F-16 sales.
The US18E is based on the already proven US16E ejection seat, which is currently operational in the Lockheed Martin F-35 aircraft. This design boasts a wider range of accommodation for pilots, catering to those weighing between 103 and 245 pounds. Crucially, it also enables safe ejection for aircrew wearing Helmet Mounted Displays (HMD) across varying speed ranges.
The US18E incorporates a sophisticated Martin-Baker Electronic Sequencer, backed up by a reliable mechanical automatic backup unit to provide critical system redundancy. The modular design of the seat aims to reduce the need for canopy removals, thereby significantly minimizing maintenance time for operators.
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