JSF STOVL Performance Toolset Innovations

Lockheed Martin has developed and deployed a new system of tools to facilitate STOVL performance analysis for the Joint Strike Fighter Program. A powerful man-in-the-loop interactive optimization environment is created using efficient single-screen inputs and outputs, quick-running models and code, and instantaneous graphical feedback. The Windows NT-based toolset marries the versatile Microsoft Excel development environment with our powerful in-house General Exchange of Methods and Data (GEMD) system. Full 3-degree-of-freedom (3DOF) trim point analysis, vertical landing / takeoff / waveoff, and short takeoff / landing analysis options are included. The hybrid toolset features encapsulated table-and-function-based data modeling using GEMD, path guidance and integration routines coded in Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), and input / output / optimization using Excel's native spreadsheet and graphical functionality. Relative to existing methods, the new tools offer a number of benefits. The new, unified software environment is much quicker to navigate than the previous text editor / batch code / plotting package approach. In addition to making it much easier to modify, expand, or customize code for specific tasks, the new tools run much faster. For example, a 3DOF STO launch integration that took 30 minutes to run with the old tools now takes only 5 seconds to run, and both graphical and digital results are instantly displayed.