Kennon Products, Inc. — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: AF211-CSO1

Description

The benchmark for F-35 mission capability continues to be a challenge for the latest 5th generation fighter. Delicate low-observable coatings and long part lead-times results in a fleet readiness well below the 80% goal. Canopy damage and repair time is one of several significant contributors to aircraft downtime. In an effort to increase mission capability, Kennon Products, Inc is proposing an affordable, compact, portable magnetic F-35 canopy cover to reduce canopy damage and be deployed with the aircraft. Fighter-class aircraft have limited storage volume on-aircraft, resulting in protective equipment often arriving on a cargo aircraft hours after the deployed F-35 has landed. This system is not only cost and time inefficient but exposes the F-35 to environmental conditions while waiting for its protective equipment to arrive. Kennon's canopy cover will be flight qualified so as to travel on the aircraft when deployed and can be quickly installed by one airman immediately after aircraft shutdown. Next-generation textiles and proprietary magnetic seals will prevent sand, dust, water, and prolonged incident solar radiation from damaging the canopy, and allow the protective equipment to remain installed even during 70mph sustained winds.