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F-111 Aardvark
IOC: 1967
Total Production: 563
F-111F Aardvark
Unitary Cost: USD$75 million
Also Known As
EF-111A Raven
F-111A
F-111B
F-111C
F-111D
F-111E
F-111G
FB-111
RF-111C
Origin
United States of America
Air-to-Air Missiles:
AIM-9M Sidewinder
Guided Missiles:
AGM-142 Raptor (IR)
AGM-142 Raptor (TV)
AGM-69A SRAM (6)
AGM-84D Harpoon
Bombs:
AGM-62 Walleye II
GBU-10 Paveway II
GBU-12 Paveway II
GBU-15()V1/B
Sensors & Communications:
AN/ALR-46
Protection Systems:
AN/ALQ-137
AN/ALQ-99 TJS
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Description:
F-111 is a twin-engine, swing-wing strike fighter-bomber developed to meet the requirements of both the US Air Force (USAF) and the US Navy. F-111A entered service in the USAF in 1967. F-111B model which was being developed for the Navy was cancelled in 1968. FB-111 was a nuclear capable variant operated by USAF till 1990 when the cold war was over. Thereafter FB-111 assumed the conventional strike role under F-111G designation. F-111C was a variant combining F-111A and FB-111 features sold to Australia. Australia also developed the RF-111C reconnaissance aircraft based on this aircraft.
F-111 features a two-man crew seated side-by-side inside a cabin/capsule that is ejected from the aircraft in a catastrophic event. It is powered by two Pratt & Whitney TF-30 turbofan engines each rated at between 18,500- and 25,000-lb. It flies supersonic and at low altitude avoiding detection by enemy radars and other surveillance sensors thus increasing this way its survivability and the probability of mission success. F-111s were deployed by the USAF for the last time during operation Desert Storm in 1991 delivering smart munitions. The F-111 was also deployed to Vietnam where it was involved in the utilization of smart munitions still under development such as the laser-guided bomb.
F-111D, F-111E and F-111F were improved models featuring digital avionics, improved engines, new air inlets and other advancements. All these aircraft were assigned to the tactical strike role. EF-111A Raven was an electronic warfare (EW) aircraft derived from the F-111A. It retained F-111A's supersonic speed. USAF F-111 strike fighter-bomber and EF-111 EW aircraft were withdrawn from service in the 1990s. As of early 2006 Australia is the only F-111 operator with a foreseeable aircraft replacement being expected before 2020.
Specifications
Accommodation: Crew 2
Dimensions: Height 5.1 m, Length 22 m, Wingspan 19 m
Weights: Max Weight 45,000 kg (99,206 lb), Payload 11,000 kg (24,250 lb)
Engine/s Performance: Thrust 50,000 lb (22,680 kg)
Performance: Ceiling 18,000 m (59,055 ft), Top Speed 731 mps (Mach 2.20)
Other: Number of Engines 2
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Notes
(*) lead contractor
IOC: Initial Operating Capability
FOC: Full Operating Capability
CEP: Circular Error Probable
Comm: Commissioning Date
Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Nautic Miles (nm) Inch (in) Yard (yd) Foot (ft) Millimeter (mm)
Pound (lb) Kilogram (kg) kN (KiloNewton) Ton (t)
Meters per Second (mps) Kilometers per Hour (kph) Knot (kt) Miles per Hour (mph)
Liter (l) Galon (gl)
Year (yr) Minutes (min) Second (sec)
Shaft-Horse-Power (shp)
Last Updated: Friday, October 10, 2008
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