It’s hard to watch this video of the F-35B STOVL Joint Strike Fighter and not think of the word ‘badass.’ The military loves their acronyms, and STOVL stands for Short Takeoff/Vertical Landing, one of the aircraft’s key features. This variant of the F-35B will be rolled out for the US Marine Corps and the UK Royal Air Force and Royal Navy.
Designing a fighter plane with the capability to basically hover is no simple task. The F-35B features a shaft-driven lift fan--made by none other than Rolls-Royce--to help with the crucial ratio of vertical lift and weight that allows the aircraft to land vertically.
The F-35B is currently in an 86% scale operating model stage. There is a ton of testing that must be completed before the F35B can be officially rolled out, but from the looks of this video, the fighter jet will be worth the wait.
Military Transformers
The USMC F-35B STOVL Lands Vertically
Trend Themes
1. STOVL Aircraft - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop new technologies and design principles for aircraft that can take off and land vertically, enabling increased flexibility in military operations and potentially revolutionizing the aviation industry.
2. Vertical Landing Technologies - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore and develop advanced lift fan systems and propulsion technologies to enable vertical landing capabilities in aircraft, not only for military applications but also for potential civilian uses like emergency medical evacuations or short-distance transportation.
3. Advanced Military Fighter Planes - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Innovate and create next-generation fighter planes with advanced capabilities like vertical landing, stealth technology, and increased range and payload capacity, transforming military aerial combat capabilities.
Industry Implications
1. Aerospace - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Collaborate with military organizations to develop and manufacture advanced military aircraft, including STOVL aircraft, to meet the evolving needs of defense forces around the world.
2. Aviation - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Harness vertical landing technologies and expertise to develop commercial aircraft that can vertically take off and land, providing new opportunities for air transportation in challenging terrains and urban environments.
3. Defense - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Invest in research and development of advanced military fighter planes and technologies, enhancing the capabilities of defense forces and strengthening national security.