The System Development & Demonstration (SDD) ejection seat that was selected by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company is a further development of the Mk.16 range that has already been successful with the T-6 Texan II, Eurofighter Typhoon, NASA T-38N and USAF T-38 upgrade programmes and other numerous aircraft platforms around the world. The US16E ejection seat provides an unprecedented balanced optimisation between key performance parameters such as safe terrain clearance limits, physiological loading limits, pilot boarding mass and anthropometric accommodation ranges to fully meet the F-35 Escape System requirements. The US16E will be common to all F-35 aircraft variants.
The US16E is the only Qualified Ejection Seat that meets the US Government defined Neck Injury Criteria (NIC) across the pilot accommodation range. Martin-Baker is very proud to support the F-35 Programme; the programme will sustain approximately 700 jobs at Martin-Baker into the future, also supporting 66 sub-tier suppliers located within 20 counties spread right across the UK. To date, Martin-Baker has delivered over 130 Ejection Seats to Lockheed Martin, with LRIP V deliveries completed in October 2013. Ejection Seats for LRIP VI and VII have been launched into manufacture.
Martin-Baker Aircraft Co. Ltd. is a British manufacturer of ejection seats and safety-related equipment for aviation. The company’s origins were originally as an aircraft manufacturer before becoming a pioneer in the field of ejection seats. The company’s headquarters are in Higher Denham, Buckinghamshire, England with other sites in France, Italy and the United States. Martin-Baker claimed in 2016 that since the first live ejection test in 1946, a total of 7,545 lives have been saved by the company’s ejection seats. The Martin-Baker company continues as a family-run business, run by the two sons of the late Sir James Martin.
