The particular application of the Remote Augmented Lift System (RALS) to tactical short take-off, vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft enables configurations to be designed that possess significant supersonic performance in addition to subsonic/transonic performance.
Future tactical fighter aircraft for the 1995 time frame should be flexible enough to cover various roles, e.g., close air support (CAS)/battlefield air interdiction (BAI), and have significant air-to-air capability with rapid redeployment potential in the face of a changing battle scenario. In addition, these aircraft must possess superior lethality, survivability and availability characteristics. STOVL concepts make a distinct contribution to availability by virtue of allowing remote austere basing operations.
Recent operational studies have identified new requirements for basing, support, and new technologies that could greatly improve sortie generation capability. This paper discusses requirements for a RALS/STOVL concept operating in this environment.