FA1000-62-85A1-0024A Datasheet, PDF (16/18 Pages) Glenair, Inc. – The Glenair Eye-Beam™ Fiber Optic Revolution

QwikConnect
“Fly-By-Light” with the
Joint Strike Fighter
One of the most significant Glenair Fiber Optic success stories is the F-35
Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) in development for the US Air Force, Navy and
Marine Corps, as well as the UK Royal Navy. Led by Lockheed Martin,
with international partners that include Northrop Grumman,
BAE Systems, General Electric, Rolls-Royce, Hamilton
Sundstrand, Vision Systems, Harris Advanced Avionic
Systems, Honeywell, Moog and others, the JSF is being
built in three forms: conventional take-off, carrier take-
off, and short take-off and vertical landing. These fighter
jets feature some of the world’s most sophisticated and
complicated systems for avionics, communications, navigation,
targeting, countermeasures, and helmet display.
Glenair has considerable interconnect content designed into the
JSF, including many backshells, connectors and cable assemblies.
But most relevant to this story is Glenair’s High-Reliability
Fiber Optic Technology serving the new JSF. Fighter
plane conditions are severe, and Glenair
Fiber Optic products are well suited for
the circumstances. Temperature shifts of
+125°C in deserts to -65°C at 30,000 feet
within only a few minutes, call for high-
reliability solutions. Weight limits and
tight spaces for components within the
wing, tail and cockpit dictate small,
lightweight and compact packaging.
Glenair MIL-DTL-38999 style tight-
tolerance fiber optic connectors in
lightweight, but extremely rugged,
composite thermoplastic are a perfect
match for these temperature and restricted
space requirements. Electromagnetic
compatibility was specified because placement
and routing put electronics near magnetic interference generators such as engines
and high-frequency computer equipment. Glenair Fiber Optic technology, immune from
electromagnetic interference, is ideal for these EMI environments. Reliability is also crucial. As
the JSF is a single-seat aircraft, the flawless performance of the interconnect system is vitally
important to help the pilot carry out his or her mission.
Early in the JSF program, fiber optic interconnection was handled by modifying MIL-
DTL-38999 electrical connectors for use with fiber optic contacts. Higher bandwidth and
tighter tolerance requirements drove Glenair to develop specific MIL-DTL-38999 style fiber
optic connectors with tighter dimensional control of connector keys and keyways and other
30
QwikConnect n January 2011
dimensional stability needs of fiber. The Glenair MIL-DTL-38999 style connector established
true positioning of cavities with extremely accurate termini retention clip location.
The JSF uses Glenair MIL-DTL-38999 style tight-tolerance fiber optic connectors (well
over 100 part numbers in this connector family are available for immediate shipment from
our Same Day Inventory program), and Glenair MIL-Qualified 29504/4 and /5 termini (these
MIL-Qualified termini and their COTS equivalent part numbers are also available from our
Same Day Inventory program). Glenair-built fiber optic
cables connect critical systems throughout the Joint
Strike Fighter.
To keep these fiber cable assemblies and
other fiber lines running at top performance,
regular testing is required. The standard way
to testfor contamination or scratches on fiber
end faces and termini is to use a complicated test
harness. This testing process can be time-consuming
and expensive. Thanks to Glenair’s Test Probes, Adaptors,
Calibrators, and Handheld Inspection Systems, all in use on JSF,
evaluation of fiber and termini condition can be handled on the
plane instead of in the lab or back at the factory. Cables are tested and
cleaned in place, saving hours of removal and reinstallation time.
Glenair is proud to have been chosen to “light up” the Joint Strike
Fighter with our extensive family of fiber optic connectors, termini,
cables, and test equipment.
Many front-line fighter aircraft are now integrating fiber optic
media into their avionic, flight control and computer systems.
The advantages include EMI immunity and of course reduced
size and weight. The ability to more easily accommodate future
bandwidth requirements as well as the ability to incorporate
redundant fibers for improved safety and reliability are
important additional consideration.
Glenair is the only manufacturer of tactical fiber optic
interconnect systems to commit resources to produce
such a broad spectrum of connection systems, backshell
accessories and assembly tooling. The high-reliability
interconnect systems we produced for the Joint
Strike Fighter exactly meet the requirements of
the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Marines as well as the
U.K. Royal Navy. They also demonstrate Glenair’s
capability to “over-serve” our customers with
outstanding product designs, customer
service and product availability.
QwikConnect n January 2011
31