54 · MT 5/2022 Special Feature Martin-Baker’s KR18A seat was selected in 2020 for Korea’s KF-21 ‘Borame’. (Photo: Atul Chandra) wearing a Helmet Mounted Display and Sight (HMDS). The Mk18 seat also introduces a new escape parachute and modular construction, delivering significant benefits in maintenance and life cycle costs. The Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF) is a long term MartinBaker customer, whose seats are installed in KAI-built KT-1 basic trainers and T-50/FA-50 advanced jet trainer/light attack aircraft. The RoKAF’s F-35As are fitted with Martin-Baker US16E seats. Martin-Baker was selected to provide US18E ejection seats for the F-16 by Lockheed Martin in 2020. “This was a FMS competition and we won that to be selected for the F 16. We are now in test out and have a test programme underway, which we hope to finish next year,” Roberts said. As compared to the Collins Aerospace ACES 2 ejection seat, Roberts said the US18E ejection seat offers pilots neck protection and the ability to safely eject while wearing an HMDS. The ACES II has a parachute that was designed in the 1970s, whereas the US18E makes use of a parachute designed in 2020. The ACES II also has an old ejection sequencer, and no leg or arm restraints. The US18E features modular construction and also generates significant savings in maintenance costs, Roberts stressed. The NACES NXG seat is being proposed by Martin-Baker to the US Navy, and it is also being offered to the Indian Navy (IN) on the F/A18E/F Super Hornet. “We have proposed the NACES NXG seat for all Super Hornets and T-45s in service,” Roberts said. Including other Super Hornet operators such as Kuwait and Australia, the potential market for this ejection seat retrofit could be up to 1,500 seats. The NACES NXG seat would be better suited to the safer ejection of small female pilots from these aircraft. The NACES NXG includes the latest features from the US18E ejection seat, including Martin-Baker’s new generation ‘V’ harness and a water active release system to release the harness and also includes neck protection. The NACES NXG seat is superior to Martin-Baker’s older Mk F16F seats fitted on the Dassault Rafale-M, which is also in contention for UK based ejection seat specialist Martin-Baker’s new Mk18 seat introduces several new advances in escape system technology, which could well make it the ejection seat of choice in many upcoming competitions. The Mk18 seat has already been selected by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) for use on its indigenously- developed KF-21 ‘Boramae’ 4.5 gen fighter jets, as the KR18A seat. It has also been selected by Lockheed Martin for use on the F-16V ‘Viper’ as the US18E seat for Foreign Military Sales (FMS). MartinBaker is also vying for a significant order from the US Navy for its Navy Aircrew Common Ejection Seat NXG (NACES NXG) seat, which is an upgrade of the Mk14 ejection seat used on the F/A-18/Super Hornet and T-45 Goshawk. The maiden flight of the KF-21 in July was an important milestone for Martin-Baker, whose KR18A seat was fitted on the aircraft. KAI ran a competition to select an ejection seat for the KF-21 and Martin-Baker was selected to provide the Mk18-based KR18A seat in 2018. Martin Baker will build the KR18A seat for Korea in the UK, but it will also feature parts supplied by Korean firms. “We are also hopeful of the opportunity to upgrade RoKAF F-16s in future with our ejection seats but that’s well into the future,” Steve Roberts, Head of Business Development at Martin-Baker told MilTech. The new Mk18 seats are a substantial advance on their predecessors and usher in the ability to safely eject smaller and lighter pilots, especially females. The Mk18 seat offers fighter pilots neck protection during ejection, providing them with the ability to safely eject while Images of the KR18A seat being ejected from a KF-21 forebody during trials held by Martin-Baker in the UK. (Photo: Martin-Baker) Atul Chandra Safe Escape Martin-Baker Well Placed for New Mk18 Ejection Seat f
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