Fire/Explosion Vulnerability Reduction of Advanced Aircraft

Reduction of the vulnerability of advanced military aircraft to on-board fires and explosions is mandatory to prevent excessive attrition in both peacetime and combat. Fire/explosion protection technology is heavily stressed, however, by proliferation of lethal combat threats, along with severe limitations in cost, weight, volume, supportability, and other resources. This paper outlines the integration of fire/explosion vulnerability reduction technology into the system engineering process to develop advanced military aircraft. The unique demands of combat applications are illustrated with conceptual designs for critical regions within the aircraft.