The Harrier jumpjet is one of the most famous aircraft in the world. Ideal for carrier take off and landings, the jumpjet has been part of the US military arsenal for many years. The problem is that it isn’t very fast. Now the next generation of jumpjet is entering testing to see if it measures up.
The new Harrier, known as the F-35B, combines stealth and supersonic speed. Currently there is only one other aircraft in the world that does this: the F-22 Raptor. The problem with the Raptor is it requires a standard runway to take-off and land, and is also extremely expensive ($361 Million per aircraft). The new Harrier, on the other hand, is both cheap (comparatively so, at $83 million each) and doesn’t require a full-length runway to operate. Assuming the F-35B passes testing, the U.S. is expected to invest in a large number of the new aircraft.
shiny
Somewhat misleading headling/article.
The F35-B is just one configuration of the F35 Lightning. Its not “the new harrier.” I guess you could compare it to the Harrier Jumpjet, but physically it in no way uses the old Harrier airframe.
There is also an A and C configuration.
One being for the airforce, one being for the navy. The B configuration, which features verticle takeoff and landing, is for the Marines. Many foreign services are also looking at buying the F35-B.
Jordan +1
NOVA on PBS did a great documentary on the race between Boeing and Lockheed to get this contract. I think it’s like 2 hours long and it’s geek paradise start to finish!
Here ya go kids…
http://www.hulu.com/watch/23356/nova-battle-of-the-x-planes
Can’t watch Hulu outside the lawyered-up bastion called the USA. And yes I know about proxies – they block them fanatically. Thanks anyway.
From what I remember about that documentary, if Lockheed hadn’t gotten the contract, the company was in serious financial trouble. Awarding the contract to Lockheed instead of Northrop apparently wasn’t a battle for technical supremacy at all, but political. Norththrop’s entry made one minor stumble in a hovering test (although it’s a simpler design than the heavy, dual-engined F-35B), which was used an excuse to can the Northrop entry by political pressure to save Lockheed.
the F35 has a single engine (all variants)
The Harrier is not a type of plane, it’s the name. The f35 is not a harrier but a vtol/jumpjet. Harrier was built by a british company, not lockheed martin.