![]() Three rounds of updates to the proposals were conducted with Boeing being picked by the selection board. Boeing and General Dynamics were selected to enhance their designs. The proposal evaluation group found all the proposals lacking, but the best should be improved with study contracts. In December of that year Boeing, General Dynamics, Lockheed, McDonnell, North American and Republic submitted their proposals. Ī request for proposal (RFP) for the TFX was provided to industry in October 1961. Then on 1 September 1961 he ordered the USAF to develop it. He changed to a 36-inch (91 cm) dish for compatibility and increased the maximum weight to approximately 60,000 lb (27,200 kg) for the Air Force version and 55,000 lb (24,900 kg) for the Navy version. So McNamara developed a basic set of requirements for TFX based largely on the Air Force's requirements. The Navy also wanted a 48-inch (120 cm) radar dish for long range and a maximum takeoff weight of 50,000 pounds (23,000 kg). Mach 0.9) at low level with a length of 56 ft (17.1 m). The Navy had less strenuous requirements of 6 g with Mach 2 speed at altitude and high subsonic speed (approx. Also, the USAF wanted the aircraft designed for 7.33 g with Mach 2.5 speed at altitude and Mach 1.2 speed at low level with a length of approximately 70 ft (21 m). The USAF wanted a tandem seat aircraft for low level penetration, while the Navy wanted a shorter, high altitude interceptor with side by side seating. The USAF and the Navy could only agree on swing-wing, two seat, twin engine design features. In June 1961, Secretary McNamara ordered the go ahead on TFX despite Air Force and Navy efforts to keep their programs separate. Early studies indicated the best option was to base the Tactical Fighter Experimental (TFX) on the Air Force requirement and a modified version for the Navy. Secretary of Defense, Robert McNamara, formally directed that the services study the development of a single aircraft that would satisfy both requirements. ![]() However, on 14 February 1961, the new U.S. The Air Force and Navy requirements appeared to be different. The Navy needed a Fleet Air Defense (FAD) aircraft with a more powerful radar, and longer range missiles than the F-4 Phantom II to intercept both enemy bombers and missiles. Navy sought a long-range, high-endurance interceptor to defend its aircraft carrier battle groups against long-range anti-ship missiles launched from Soviet jet bombers, such as the Tupolev Tu-16, Tupolev Tu-22, and Tupolev Tu-22M, along with submarines. In June 1960, the USAF issued a specification for a long-range interdiction and strike aircraft able to penetrate Soviet air defenses at very low altitudes and very high speeds to deliver tactical nuclear weapons against crucial targets. The USAF's Tactical Air Command (TAC) was largely concerned with the fighter-bomber and deep strike/interdiction roles their version of the aircraft would be a follow-on to the F-105 Thunderchief fighter-bomber. The F-111B was part of the 1960s TFX program. Main article: General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark § Development The planned F-111B was replaced by the smaller and lighter Grumman F-14 Tomcat, which carried the AWG-9/ Phoenix weapons system over the engines, and a similar swing-wing configuration. The F-111B was not ordered into production and the F-111B prototypes were used for testing before being retired. It incorporated innovations such as variable-geometry wings, afterburning turbofan engines, and a long-range radar and missile weapons system.ĭesigned in parallel with the F-111 "Aardvark", which was adopted by the Air Force as a strike aircraft, the F-111B suffered development issues and changing Navy requirements for an aircraft with maneuverability for dogfighting. Navy as part of the joint Tactical Fighter Experimental (TFX) with the United States Air Force (USAF) to produce a common fighter for the services that could perform a variety of missions. The F-111B was developed during the 1960s by General Dynamics in conjunction with Grumman for the U.S. The General Dynamics–Grumman F-111B is a long-range carrier-based interceptor aircraft planned as a follow-on to the F-4 Phantom II for the United States Navy (USN).
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