The Defence Department says it is monitoring concerns over pilot’s ejector seat that saw the US ground hundreds of its aircraft.
The Joint Program Office, which is the engineering authority for F-35s globally, is investigating quality issues with the cartridges used in the ejector seat to deploy parachutes for pilots.
The seat manufacturer, Martin-Baker, told US media that a defective part in the seat’s cartridge-actuated device was loose and missing magnesium that is used to ignite the propellant that ejects the pilot out of the plane. The US Air Force has grounded 300 of its F-35s to speed up inspections of the cartridges, although the US military has said only a limited number of cartridges are affected.The F-35s operated by the US Navy and US Marines, which are a different model, are operating, although some cartridges have been replaced in affected aircraft., to replace the F/A-18 Classic Hornet.
“Air Force will continue to engage with the US Air Force and JPO and review its risk assessment if new information is received.” The cartridges are just the latest issue to bedevil the fifth-generation fighter, which also include issues with software development and high operating and sustainment costs.Connect with
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Unidentified hero saves grandmother as US home is swallowed by floodwatersAmid disastrous flooding in the US state of Kentucky, one anonymous man's good deed helped rescue a grandmother and her family trapped inside a water-filled home. 9News
Read more »
'Considerable learning curve': Documents show unnamed candidate was ranked ahead of Barilaro for US roleTwo different versions of job panel reports appear to reveal different scores for John Barilaro, who went from being ranked second for a lucrative US trade role to becoming the recommended candidate.
Read more »
US faces new era of political violence as threats against lawmakers riseMembers of the House will now get up to $10,000 to upgrade their home security as experts warn such threats endanger the health of US democracy
Read more »
Tory MP urged to quit job as adviser to ‘climate denier’ US fossil fuel firmCritics say Mark Pritchard’s £46,800-a-year role with Linden Energy is ‘highly concerning’
Read more »