Dielectric Coolants

The Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) is the Department of Defense's affordable next-generation strike aircraft designed to meet the needs of the Air Force (AF), Navy, Marines, and US allies. Currently in development by Lockheed Martin, the multimission, supersonic, JSF aircraft will provide all services with enhanced lethality and survivability and reduced vulnerability (see figure). The JSF's unique, multiple-variant design pushes the threshold of fighter technology far beyond current limitations. The AF variant of the technology takes multirole fighter performance to new levels, offering improved stealth, increased range on internal fuel, and advanced avionics. The JSF's advanced avionics, as well as its flight control, target acquisition, and other sophisticated electronic systems rely on high-performance coolants to ensure proper operation. Designers employ dielectric coolants to dissipate heat from high-energy electronic components and therefore consider these fluids critical to aircraft operation and safety.