Boeing X-32, a multipurpose jet fighter, lost to the Lockheed Martin X-35 during the joint strike fighter contest. The X-32 has composite wing that is of carbon fiber, and trapezoidal in shape (Griehl, Manfred 56). The wing had a high sweep angle meant to allow a thick section of the wing to be used while it is still providing limited transonic drag. The angle was also significant as it provided a good angle for the antenna equipment that was installed in the equipment. The engine of the plane was positioned behind the cockpit. This position of the engine places the plane ahead of the center of gravity, hence prevents the blades from being direct visible to the radar due to hardware that is at the intake. Delta wing design was introduced to the X-32 to reduce the costs of production and manufacturing.
The Boeing and Lockheed companies were to build a dubbed x-plane, which was known as the Joint Strike Fighter as it would serve the army, navy, and the Marine Corps. Lockheed is to improve the BAE systems Plc and Boeing Company during the competition. This was meant to upgrade the foreign fleets of F-16 jets. The competition led to the formation of the EELV program, which was used in transportation of commercial satellites in space. The air force procured the EELV from both Boeing and Lockheed companies.
Through an announcement from the department of Defense, Lockheed Martin X-35 had won the JSF competition. According to the department, the plane had a lift fan system that had a higher performance comparing to the Boeing vectored-thrust approach. The lift fan is significant due to the high power it has, considering the weight gain experienced by all fighter aircrafts. Considering the sizes, Boeing is twice the size of the Lockheed. Engineers put up a plane that had a conventional tail that was smaller than the Pelikan tail (Griehl, Manfred 63). The design of the tail reduced the weight of the plane and improved its agility.
During the plane test, Lockheed X-35 prototypes transitioned between their STOVL and supersonic configurations in mid-flight whereas, Boeing demonstrated in separate configurations. According to Boeing, some parts had to be removed from the fighter plane (Griehl, Manfred 69).
Works cited
Griehl, Manfred. X-Planes German Luftwaffe Prototypes 1930-1945.. Havertown: Frontline Books, 2012s. Print.
"Battle of the X-Planes | Watch Free Documentary Online." Top Documentary Films - Watch Free Documentaries Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Oct. 2013. <http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/battle-x-planes/>
