THE F-35 JOINT STRIKE FIGHTER – A DESIGN-FOR-THE-ENVIRONMENT PRODUCT

Design for the Environment (DfE) is a process used by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics in Palmdale to design environmental aspects into a product from the very beginning. The design of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) provided for reductions in the use of hazardous materials in production, operations and maintenance throughout the product life of the aircraft. Banned and restricted hazardous materials were designed out of the JSF and its air support system, and the remaining materials are controlled through a product data management system. The Joint Strike Fighter won the competition for procurement, and in 2002, entered into the System Development and Demonstration Phase. The product meets the high performance of a state-of-arts aircraft and the low hazard requirement for a sustainable environment.