The Design of The F-22 Raptor
The Design of The F-22 Raptor
The Design of The F-22 Raptor
Sean Cosden
University of Alaska Fairbanks
ESM 684
Fall 2002
Table of Contents
List of Figures 3
1 – Introduction 4
2 – An Overview of the F-22 Program 5
2.1 – The Advanced Tactical Fighter Concept 5
2.2 – The ATF Request for Information and Concept Exploration 6
2.3 – Demonstration/Validation Contract Awards 8
2.4 – The F-22 9
3 – The Design of the ATF Pre-Teaming 11
3.1 – Request for Information 11
3.2 – Concept Exploration 13
4 – General Teaming Concepts 16
4.1 – The Definition of a Team 16
4.2 – The Benefits of Teaming 16
4.3 – The Types of Teams 17
4.4 – Legal Aspects of Teaming 18
5 – The Teaming Agreement and Initial Actions 20
5.1 – The Agreement Signing 20
5.2 – Initial Combined Project Actions 20
5.3 – The YF-22 Design Process 22
6 – Teaming Issues for the YF-22 Project 25
6.1 – Legal Issues 25
6.2 – Organizational Issues 27
6.3 – Economics Issues 30
6.4 – Project Management Issues 31
7 – Conclusions 32
Appendix A - References 34
2
List of Figures
3
Section 1 – Introduction
The last half-century has seen more technological advances than perhaps any
other 50-year period in world history. From space travel to microprocessors, the public
has been given capabilities and possibilities that would have been unimaginable, let alone
achievable, only two generations earlier. Though many different people have been
involved in making these things possible, the military and the defense industry have
always been two of the leaders in discovering and utilizing new technology.
One of the main forces driving this great leap forward in weapons technology was
the Cold War with the former Soviet Union. The two sides constantly battled to produce
a better weapons system, one that would make the enemy think twice before striking.
This was especially true in the Air Force, as fighters became faster, more agile, and, most
importantly, more lethal. In the late 1970’s, however, the United States began to fully
utilize a technology that would forever alter the battle for air superiority; they had
discovered the ability to hide—stealth.
However, as capable as American research and development had become, our
capitalist society still fostered competition and, therefore, could divide the best engineers
against each other. Instead of combining their efforts on a project, their loyalties lay with
their company.
As the size and scope of several of these defense projects grew, many aerospace
firms began to realize that they did not have the capital to sink into the development of
some of these systems. Moreover, the government began to realize that a single company
could not produce as good a product as several companies could if they consolidated their
efforts. Therefore, a trend has started over the last two decades of “teaming” for high-
tech defense projects. Two or more companies come together to combine their efforts on
a project, design and manufacture a quality product, and then split and go their separate
ways.
One of the first major defense projects to utilize the teaming concept was the
design and construction of the F-22 “Raptor”, the United States’ first stealth air-to-air
fighter. This program covered nearly sixteen years from the time of the initial concept
until the first production model fighter rolled out of the factory. There were four major
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phase for the F-22 program, with three types of contracts awarded. The program began
with a Request for Information, asking aerospace companies to discuss technologies to be
utilized in the design and construction of the fighter, as well as to develop a generalized
concept for the aircraft. From the documents produced by the companies, the
Department of Defense awarded contracts of approximately $1 million to seven
companies to enter the “concept exploration” phase. During this phase, the seven
companies began to research the technologies and improve upon their concepts. They
were not tasked to provide detailed blueprints; rather, they were asked to expand upon
their initial concept and develop a plan for the processes to be used in the design and
manufacture of the fighter. At the end of this phase, two companies were awarded $700
million contracts to enter the demonstration/validation phase, during which they
designed, constructed, and tested prototype aircrafts as well as created plans for the
production model fighter. The demonstration/validation phase ended with a single
contract, awarded to the team of Lockheed/Boeing/General Dynamics, for the
Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase. This final contract in the program
provided for the design, testing, and mass production of the Air Force’s newest fighter.
This paper will examine the F-22 program, focusing on the highly creative design
process for the construction of a test prototype during the demonstration/validation phase
of the project. It will analyze the benefits of the teaming arrangement, as well as some of
the legal, economic, and managerial obstacles that the companies were forced to
overcome.
During the early 1970’s the Air Force realized a need for an Advanced Tactical
Fighter (ATF) to counter the increased capabilities of the Soviet Air Force. The ATF
concept would utilize stealth technology and become the Air Force’s premiere air-to-
ground fighter-bomber. However, budget constraints and the need for a mass-produced,
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relatively cheap fighter forced the military to shelve the ATF concept. Instead, the focus
shifted to the program that eventually became the F-16 “Falcon”.
However, the ATF concept did not die. Though the F-15 “Eagle” was now the
mainstay of Air Force air-to-air combat, it was already being matched by Soviet
technology. In 1977, the Soviet Air Force unveiled the MiG-29 “Fulcrum”, followed
four years later by the Su-27 “Flanker”. These two systems, though not as formidable as
the F-15, guaranteed that the battle for air superiority would be a bloody fight, something
that American planners were not willing to accept.
Section 2.2 – The ATF Request for Information and Concept Exploration
In 1981, the USAF’s Aeronautic Systems Division (ASD) issued a Request for
Information from the aerospace industry for the ATF concept. Nine different airframe
companies responded, as did three engine companies. These firms had a wide variety of
perspectives and experience with military aircraft design.
Over the course of the next four years, the companies brainstormed, developing a
wide variety of concepts for the Air Force’s newest fighter. Seven eventually submitted
proposals for the concept exploration phase. All seven were awarded contracts of
approximately $1 million each to expand upon their concepts. These companies were
tasked to develop plans for the processes to be used during the demonstration and
validation phase of the ATF program. They were not asked to produce detailed plans for
a vehicle with precise engineering analysis. Rather, the Air Force was more interested in
the methods and procedures that companies would use to complete the design, as well as
the technologies that would be investigated to meet the military’s stringent performance
requirements.
Working individually, the companies developed many varied ideas for the ATF,
ranging from typical fighter configurations to flying wing designs. The companies were
to present their concepts to the Air Force in May 1985. However, two events late in the
concept phase drastically changed the design process for the ATF.
Originally, the USAF was to award four contracts of $100 million each for the
demonstration and validation (dem/val) portion of the program. This portion would
6
1981 USAF Aeronautic Systems Division Puts out RFI for Advanced Tactical
Fighter (ATF)
May, 1983 - General Electric and Pratt & Whitney receive contracts to build
competing engines for the ATF program
1984
Boeing
General Dynamics
Grumann June, 1986 - Boeing, Lockheed, and General Dynamics sign teaming
Lockheed
McDonnell Douglas 1986 agreement
Northrop
August, 1986 - Northrop and McDonnell Douglas sign teaming agreement
Rockwell
October 31, 1986 - Northrop and Lockheed receive $691 mil each to enter
dem/val phase and build aircraft prototypes
1987 November 2, 1986 - Lockheed, Boeing, and General Dynamics engineers meet
for the first time
July, 1987 - Lockheed team forced to scrap design and start over
1988
Dem/Val Phase May, 1988 - YF-22 prototype design frozen - construction begins
Lockheed/Beoing/
General Dynamics Team 1989
Northrop/McDonnell
Douglas Team
1990
1992
1993
1994
Engineering and
Manufacturing Development
Phase
Lockheed/Boeing/ 1995
General Dynamics Team
only
1996
1997
April 9, 1997 - first F-22 unveiled in Marietta, GA
1998
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involve the creation of detailed plans for the construction of production model fighters.
However, changes were afoot in the acquisition methods of the Department of Defense.
Due to the success of the F-16 program, the USAF modified its request to include the
production of two prototype aircraft during the dem/val portion of the program. This
increased the value of the contracts to be awarded to $700 million apiece. To offset this
increased cost, the Air Force would only award two contracts for dem/val, instead of
four.
The second factor that would significantly alter the engineering process for the
ATF was presented in a cover letter that the USAF sent to each of the companies. In it
the Air Force suggested that the companies consider teaming. As Col. Albert Piccirillo,
head of the USAF ATF Program office at the time, put it, the Air Force “wanted the best
resources from industry to be brought to bear on the program” (Hehs 1998). Most of the
companies immediately began negotiating and jockeying for position as teams began to
emerge. In June 1986, Boeing, Lockheed, and General Dynamics signed a teaming
agreement. Two months later, Northrop and McDonnell Douglas signed a similar
agreement. Grumman and Rockwell, meanwhile, remained independent.
In October 1986,
the Department of Defense
announced that Lockheed
and Northrop had won
contracts of $691 million
for the design and
construction of the ATF
prototypes to be named the
YF-22 and YF-23 (Figure
2), respectively. The team
Figure 2 – YF-23 Black Widow II
of Lockheed, Boeing, and
General Dynamics
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immediately went to work on the design process. With Lockheed designated as the team
leader, a plan was put in place to best combine the efforts and abilities of the three
companies.
Four years later, on August 29, 1990, the YF-22 rolled out of a hangar at
Lockheed’s Palmdale, California plant. It flew for the first time one month later,
undergoing a rigorous flight test program to validate the performance capabilities as
designed by the engineers. On December 31, 1990, the team’s formal report was
delivered to the USAF. On April 23, 1991, the Lockheed/Boeing/General Dynamics
design was chosen as the winner for the production of the F-22 “Raptor”, beating out the
Northrop/McDonnell Douglas YF-23. The program now moved into the Engineering and
Manufacturing Development phase to finalize a production model for the ATF.
For the next six years the team worked diligently to develop the final design for
the F-22. On April 9, 1997, Aircraft 4001, the first F-22, was unveiled in Marietta,
Georgia, the product of sixteen years of intense brainstorming, designing, and testing.
Though it continued to undergo minor changes throughout the next few years, the F-22
provides the “first-look, first-shot, first-kill” capability that the USAF required.
The F-22 “Raptor” is a two-engine, two-tailed air superiority fighter designed to
provide absolute control of the skies to the US military. Its maneuverability, stealth, and
supercruise capability push it far beyond the technological prowess of potential
adversaries.
The F-22’s maneuverability is unprecedented in the world of air-to-air-combat.
This is due primarily to its unique aerodynamic design and its high thrust-to-weight ratio.
During flight-testing, the F-22 was shown to maintain pitch and roll control up to 60
degrees angle of attack (Beesley 1991). In other words, the aircraft can essentially be
falling out of the sky and yet still have the control authority to point its nose (and
therefore its weapons) anywhere it wants.
The Raptor is powered by two Pratt and Whitney F119 turbojet engines. The
design incorporates a 2-dimensional thrust vectoring system that greatly increases the
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aircraft’s turning ability. Because of the
power of the engines and the aerodynamics
of the aircraft, the F-22 is capable of Mach
1.8 (Sweetman 1998). Moreover, the
Raptor can maintain supersonic airspeeds
without the use of afterburner (supercruise),
greatly decreasing both fuel consumption
and infrared signature.
The aircraft structure is 39%
titanium, 24% composite, 16% aluminum,
and 1% thermoplastic by weight (Hehs
1998). The structural design and materials
used give the F-22 a very small radar cross-
section, making it virtually undetectable by
enemy radars. On the other hand, it is
equipped with the AN/APG-77 radar;
although this radar’s capabilities are highly
Figure 3 - F-22 Raptor
classified, it guarantees that the F-22 will
dominate the skies over the battlefield.
The fighter is designed to carry up to six air-to-air missiles in an internal weapons
bay. It is capable of firing all current missiles in the USAF inventory: the heat-seeking
AIM-9 Sidewinder, the radar guided AIM-7 Sparrow, and the AIM-120 Advanced
Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM). It has an M61A2 Vulcan cannon
capable of shooting 480 rounds of 20mm ammunition, should it find itself in a dogfight.
Finally, the F-22 was designed to carry two air-to-surface Joint Direct Attack Munitions
(JDAM) should the Raptor ever be modified for the air-to-ground role.
However, all of the technological advancements of the F-22 would never have
come to pass were it not for the hard work and dedication of the engineers and managers
from Lockheed, Boeing, and General Dynamics. The origins of the design and the
technologies involved, though, can be traced back to the initial request for information of
the early 1980’s.
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Section 3 – The Design of the ATF Pre-Teaming
When the USAF’s ASD produced its request for information in 1981, most of the
country’s aerospace firms had vast experience in designing and developing military
aircraft. However, their areas of expertise were varied and they initially took very
different approaches to the fabrication of the ATF.
Lockheed had performed several studies on advanced stealth design for the Navy.
Though a Navy stealth fighter never materialized, Lockheed had been awarded a contract
for the design and production of the Air Force’s F-117 stealth fighter-bomber. In fact, as
early as 1959, Lockheed had experimented with radar-absorbing material and radar-
evasive aerodynamic shaping for the defunct A-12 Navy attack aircraft. This aircraft was
considered by many to be the first aircraft to be designed from the beginning with a
stealth capability in mind (Hehs 1998). Moreover, Lockheed had developed a computer
program called “Echo” that mathematically modeled the radar reflection from various flat
surfaces. All these factors made Lockheed the company with the most experience in
stealth technology.
General Dynamics, meanwhile, performed several studies on the need for stealth
in the modern air battle. In particular, their “Red Baron Study” examined the US
military’s air losses during the Vietnam War. The study concluded that 80% of the
aircraft fired upon and 50% of the aircraft shot down never saw their attackers (Hehs
1998). Therefore, it was General Dynamics’ conclusion that stealth was a necessity for
future US fighters.
Boeing also had performed early studies for the ATF concept. In 1980, the ASD
had commissioned several reports from industry on the concept. Boeing combined with
Grumman to produce a report entitled “Tactical Fighter Technology Alternatives.”
Though the report focused on air-to-ground fighter alternatives, they established
themselves early as a company with the experience necessary to design the Air Force’s
newest fighter.
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The companies also recognized several other attributes necessary in a modern
fighter. The first of these attributes was “supercruise”. This is defined as the ability of
an aircraft to cruise supersonically without the need for afterburners. Supercruise would
not only allow an aircraft to get into a fight quicker, but would also increase its range and
loiter time by saving fuel. Moreover, a non-afterburning engine has a significantly
smaller infrared signature, a feature that is essential when battling an enemy with a highly
capable heat seeking air-to-air and surface-to-air missile defense system.
A high degree of maneuverability would also be required in an advanced fighter.
Though the ATF was meant to shoot down enemy aircraft before they knew it was there,
the designers had to admit the possibility that the ATF would be forced into a visual
dogfight with adversary aircraft. As Bill Moran, ATF program manager at General
Dynamics, put it, “Down through history, successful air-to-air pilots have generally
avoiding maneuvering engagements whenever possible. Sometimes they forgot,
however” (Hehs 1998).
One of the major issues facing the companies during the whole of the concept
phase was the tradeoff that would have to occur between stealth, maneuverability, and
supercruise. For example, a stealthy shape is not very aerodynamic; moreover, weapons
must be carried internally, making the cross-section larger. These factors increase
aircraft drag, thus hurting supercruise and maneuverability. A highly maneuverable
aircraft, meanwhile, requires larger wings and tail surfaces, aspects that increase the
aircraft’s radar signature and drag.
Another attribute that was initially considered for the ATF was a short takeoff and
land (STOL) capability. However, the structure and equipment required for STOL are
very heavy, hurting speed and maneuverability. Moreover, a STOL capability is only
necessary if the aircraft must takeoff quickly. Air Force doctrine assumed that the ATF
would already be airborne when its services were required, so STOL was eliminated early
in the concept phase.
In 1981, the USAF’s Tactical Air Command (TAC) officially published a
“statement of need” naming the ATF as the replacement for the F-15. This statement
solidified the ATF concept as a must-have in both the Department of Defense and the
aerospace industry. Two years later, the USAF opened an ATF Program Office at
12
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio under the command of Col. Albert
Piccirillo.
The USAF had also performed its own studies on required attributes for the ATF.
In particular, they too realized that stealth was not a desire but a requirement for a
modern fighter. Ironically, the initial Request for Information had not outlined stealth as
a requirement. Therefore, at the last minute the Program Office modified its request
mandating that the companies provide information on their concept’s stealth capabilities.
Since stealth was still a “black” project of a highly classified nature, this change caused
several security headaches among the companies. More importantly, however, it forced
Lockheed to completely abandon its initial concept and move towards an F-117
derivative.
The last- minute alteration to the Request for Information and the changes it forced
upon Lockheed caused the company to finish last in this initial phase. However, all
seven companies that submitted a concept were awarded contracts of approximately $1
million to pursue their concepts and create a formal proposal. These proposals, due to the
government in May 1985, wo uld move the ATF into the demonstration and validation
(dem/val) portion of the design, with four $100 million contracts to be awarded to the top
designs.
Lockheed was forced to completely reevaluate its concept due to its poor showing
in the initial phases of the program. Though Lockheed was currently under contract to
produce the F-117 stealth fighter, they had recently lost the competition to design the B-2
stealth bomber. Lockheed’s stealth computer model “Echo” was excellent for modeling
radar reflection from flat surfaces, but was not capable of computing similar results from
smooth curves. Therefore, Lockheed’s stealth bomber proposal had been a faceted
aircraft composed of flat surfaces similar to the F-117 (Figure 4), instead of an
aerodynamically curved surface. Northrop, however, designed a smooth shape for the B-
2 bomber, which had a lot to do with it being awarded that contract. Because of this, and
13
its poor showing in the request for
information phase, Lockheed began
experimenting with smooth shapes
by building models and testing them
on a radar range.
Lockheed’s new concept
(Figure 5) was a more aerodynamic
fighter with four tails (two vertical,
Figure 4 - F-117 Nighthawk Stealth Fighter two horizontal). Since the USAF
(Note the faceted shape – there are very few curved required the ATF to have 240-degree
edges on the aircraft’s exterior.)
radar search cone (120 degrees either
side of the nose), Lockheed mounted three separate radars in the nose. The design also
required the inclusion of an Infrared Search and Track System (IRSTS); Lockheed solved
this by mounting two sensors, one in each wing root.
General Dynamics began the concept exploration phase by considering a flying
wing shape. However, the concept soon changed to a semi- tailless design, with only a
single vertical tail (Figure 6). The decision on the number of tails for the fighter was a
major stumbling block for General Dynamics. According to their calculations, a two-
tailed aircraft would be highly unstable, yet a single-tailed
configuration was much less stealthy. In the end, the single-
tailed design won out. General Dynamics’ design was able to
utilize fewer sensors than either Lockheed’s or Boeing’s
models, with a single IRSTS sensor in the nose and two
radars total, one mounted on either side of the fuselage aft of
the cockpit.
Boeing’s proposed ATF was la rger and faster than
those developed by Lockheed or General Dynamics.
Because of its length, it required only two tails for stability,
though tail configuration was also a major point of contention
at Boeing. The engines shared a single chin inlet, similar to a
Figure 5 - Lockheed's
multi-engine F-16. Like Lockheed’s design, five major ATF Concept
14
sensors were required with three radars and two IRSTS’s in the
nose. Boeing’s design would also incorporate unique
thermoplastic manufacturing techniques and materials for the
structure of the wing.
Similar to the initial Requests for Information, the Air
Force again made last minute changes to the requirements. A
few months before the dem/val contract was to be awarded, the
USAF increased the importance of stealth for the ATF. The
late modification had very little effect on Boeing and
Lockheed, as stealth had been one of their primary focuses
from the very beginning. However, General Dynamics was
forced once again to reevaluate the one- vs. two-tail dilemma.
Figure 6 - General
Not wanting to make drastic changes at this point late in the
Dynamics' ATF
Concept competition, the company submitted their proposal with only
one tail, realizing that their design was perhaps not optimized.
It was at this time that the Air Force not only modified the dem/val program to
include the building of prototypes, but also issued the letter encouraging teaming. When
the dust settled, Boeing, Lockheed, and General Dynamics had signed an agreement to
create such a team should one of them win the contract. They agreed to each submit their
proposals separately, with no cooperation between the members. If any of the three
companies received the contract, it would be the team leader with the other two as its
partners.
There were several factors helping the team members that perhaps gave them a
slight edge over their competitors. Because they had finished dead last in the first portion
of the ATF design, Lockheed was forced to assume a completely different approach and
to do it in less time, something that was sure to impress the Air Force. Moreover, their
vast experience in stealth design as well as their reputation for rapid prototyping, two
qualities of ever- increasing importance, were sure to aid their proposal. Boeing’s initial
concept had done very well and they hoped it would continue to be well received.
Though Boeing had never been awarded a modern fighter contract, they possessed vast
experience in manufacturing and production processes. General Dynamic’s strongest
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attribute was their recent experience with rapid prototyping; the YF-16, a contract that
General Dynamics had eventually been awarded, was considered an “unsurpassed”
prototyping program and the model for future prototyping of military aircraft (Hehs
1998).
On October 31, 1986, the announcement was made that Northrop and Lockheed
had been awarded the contracts for the dem/val phase of the program. Two days later,
approximately 100 senior managers and engineers from Lockheed, Boeing, and General
Dynamics met for the first time at Lockheed’s famous “Skunkworks” in Burbank, CA,
beginning the process of building the members into a cohesive team.
There were many reasons why the Air Force suggested to the participating
companies that they consider teaming arrangements. However, before the reasons behind
this can be examined, the legal meaning of “team” must first be examined.
A “joint venture” can be defined as a partnership “created by two or more
separate entities who associate, usually to engage in one specific project or transaction”
(Sweet 2000). A joint venture is what most people think of when they hear the term
“team” used in industry. However, the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR’s) define a
team as either a joint venture or when “a potential prime contractor agrees with two or
more other companies to have them act as subcontractors under a specified Government
contract or acquisition program” (Federal Acquisition Regulations 2002). In other
words, both types of teams are recognized by the government from a contracting and
legal perspective.
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federal government has embarked on programs to fulfill procurement needs, mainly in
high-tech defense” (Sweet 2000). The reasons behind this statement are many; however,
from the government’s standpoint, one motive is the driving force: the government wants
the best minds and capabilities from industry working on the development of high-tech
weapons and defense systems. As discussed above, Lockheed was strong in the realm of
stealth technology, General Dynamics had proven prototyping experience, and Boeing
possessed a strong manufacturing and production capability. Combined, these companies
could produce a better product than any of the companies could produce on their own. In
other words, the Air Force suggested teaming arrangements because it wanted the best
performance that industry could provide.
Teaming agreements are beneficial from industry’s standpoint as well. One of the
main reasons why companies team is to share the risk and cost of research and
development. This was particularly true in the development of the F-22. The dem/val
contract was worth approximately $700 million; however, many of the companies feared
that the cost for the R&D and manufacturing of the two prototypes would be more than
this. Therefore, the companies would have to invest their own money in the program in
order to continue on the ATF project. Teaming meant that they would share the costs of
the project, reducing their own investment.
Besides diversifying the risks and reducing investment, companies may team in
order to increase manpower, pool their knowledge, and perhaps reduce the duration of the
project. Though the legal aspects are often tricky, the ability to share information may
produce a better product for the government.
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A pure prime contractor-subcontractor agreement creates a relationship that is
very much like a standard subcontract. In such an agreement, the prime promises,
usually before the contract itself is awarded, to sign a subcontract with a separate
company. This type of agreement produces a chain-of-command and structure that is
familiar to all the players involved and, therefore, is relatively easy to manage.
Moreover, administrative and managerial staff does not need to be increased in such an
arrangement. Liability issues also do not have to be specifically addressed in the
agreement itself since the law treats such arrangements similar to a classic
contractor/subcontractor relationship.
A prime contractor-subcontractor teaming agreement does have some
disadvantages, however. In such a situation, one of the companies must take the lead as
the prime contractor instead of the two fully sharing responsibilities. Furthermore, the
agreement must discuss in great detail the guarantees and stipulations of the subcontract
award as well as conditions to protect the subcontractor.
Joint ventures allow more interaction between the companies than with a pure
prime-subcontractor agreement. Such an arrangement has many benefits but can also
cause problems. A joint venture may have a better appearance to potential customers
since the companies are combining their efforts. Moreover, the large flow of information
between the companies may enlighten the parties as to techniques and procedures that
they may be able to use after the partnership is terminated. However, a new
organizational structure must be created. Also, there may be difficulties dealing with
command and control and legal issues.
Both types of teaming agreements provide several benefits for both the parties
involved and the client. However, managerial, legal, and organizational difficulties must
be overcome in order to make such an arrangement a success.
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violate antitrust laws. However, the teaming agreement should be very thorough in an
attempt to limit discord among the members and possible litigation. Though a thorough
document may be unsuccessful in averting conflict, a well conceived agreement may be
able to lessen the possibility of legal disputes.
The teaming agreement document itself should clearly delineate each member’s
contributions to the project from a financial and personnel point-of-view. It should also
discuss project control, both leadership and project management responsibilities as well
as methods used to control. The division of work must be outlined as well as cost
contributions and profit sharing. It is also helpful to discuss how disputes will be
resolved (arbitration vs. litigation), both internally and externally.
The team members must discuss the issue of liability for the project. As
mentioned earlier, before the arrangement begins the companies should lay out the
methods for dealing wit h liability. They should determine how they will deal with each
other, should legal disputes between the two arise. Moreover, they must decide whether
they will go to court as a team or separately, should third-party issues arise. Finally, the
companies must consider whether or not they will indemnify each other.
A good teaming agreement will also discuss the exchange of trade secrets and
proprietary information. Though not held to the same stringent requirements as a patent,
the courts have upheld the secrecy and right to protect trade secrets. On the other hand,
in order for the team to design a quality product, they must freely exchange information
and techniques. The teaming agreement must allow for enough exchange of proprietary
information to successfully complete the project but at the same time allow for
competition once the project is complete; antitrust laws must be examined carefully.
The teaming agreement is recognized as a valid contract by the government and
the courts. The benefits of teaming are many, as long as the agreement is thorough and
worded correctly. The success of the Lockheed, General Dynamics, and Boeing teaming
agreement will now be examined.
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Section 5 – The Teaming Agreement and Initial Actions
In June 1986 Lockheed, Boeing, and General Dynamics signed the agreement
creating the team that would design the first air-to-air fighter to utilize stealth technology.
The three companies had agreed to submit their proposals with no interactions amongst
them. This was due to the short duration before submittal and the security issues
involved with the program. The winning company, meanwhile, would take the lead, both
from a management standpoint and as the beginning design for the ATF.
Two days after the award announcement, on November 2, 1986, managers and
engineers congregated at Lockheed’s Skunkworks facility in Burbank, California to begin
the process of uniting the three entities into a team. The next few days would see some
events that few of the participants had experienced before.
On the first day, each company presented their concept to the other members.
These meetings were particularly interesting in that the companies had neve r before
shared such details with people considered to be the “competition”. As Randy Kent,
program director at General Dynamics, put it, “That Monday was the most fascinating
day I ever spent in the aircraft business” (Hehs 1998). One of the surprises for the
members present was the diversity of the different designs. It was also obvious to
everyone present that Lockheed was far beyond anyone else in their stealth capability.
The unique developments continued the following day when the Air Force
presented their evaluations of the three proposals. In past projects rumors had always
floated about why certain proposals had been chosen over others; never before had they
20
received direct feedback from an authoritative source. Moreover, the results surprised
everyone.
The driving force in the Air Force’s evaluations had not been technological
promises or cost savings. Instead, they put a large emphasis on production risk reduction.
In other words, they did not want to commit to a proposal that perhaps promised
something it could not deliver. Rather, the winning concepts advocated several ways to
solve a problem instead of a point solution; in other words, the military did not want a
proposal that detailed a single solution to a problem but generalized seve ral different
alternative solutions. Moreover, the Air Force wanted companies that were willing to
challenge the requirements.
With these issues in mind, the team began to organize itself and split
responsibilities. Sherm Mullin, the ATF program manager at Lockheed, would be the
overall project manager; however, he worked in close proximity to and shared much
authority with the General Dynamics and Boeing ATF program managers, Randy Kent
and Dick Hardy, respectively. Much of the design work would be accomplished together
as a team; however, each company would take the lead role in different areas of
production. As part of the teaming agreement each company had developed its own
separate plan for dividing the work. Lockheed’s plan obviously carried the most weight,
but the top managers sat down to partition the work equitably. (See Figure 7 for a
depiction of the work breakdown.)
Lockheed took overall responsibility as the project manager for the YF-22. They
were responsible for producing the cockpit, nose section, and forward fuselage. They
also took the lead in designing the majority of the control surfaces: the ailerons, fins,
stabilators, and flaps. The aircrafts landing gear was also their responsibility. Lockheed
would be ultimately responsible for final assembly and flight-testing.
Boeing took the lead in developing the avionics and mission software for the
aircraft. Because of their strong structural capabilities, they were responsible for
producing the wings and aft fuselage. They would also design the life support system for
the Raptor. Finally, they would take the lead in developing training systems, such as
simulators and classroom instruction, necessary to teach the pilots and maintainers who
would work with the final product.
21
Figure 7 - YF-22 Division of Work
General Dynamics was responsible for producing the center fuselage. They also
took the lead for the aircraft’s weapons system. They would develop the communication,
navigation, and IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) systems as well as the Electronic
Warfare suite.
With these divisions in mind the team set to work developing the YF-22. The
next few years produced one of the most unique, and secretive, products that the defense
industry had ever deve loped.
As part of the teaming agreement, it was decided that the winning proposal would
be the starting point for the design process. Moreover, the members had determined that
it was not smart to immediately design the prototypes. Rather, it was better to design the
prototype and production models together so that few if any differences would be
required between the two.
Since all of the companies had presented their work, there was a plethora of data
and concepts to digest. First, the engineers sat down with the Lockheed concept.
22
Ironically, after a little investigating, it was determined that the Lockheed design would
not fly. It was actually uncontrollable in the pitch axis. And so the tradeoffs began.
One of the first problems facing the engineers was the weight of the aircraft.
After crunching the numbers and exploring many options, the designers determined that
it would be impossible to build a 50,000-pound aircraft (USAF requirement) and still
meet all of the other stipulations. The team presented this dilemma to the Air Force’s
program office. The USAF was willing to drop some of the requirements, but only if
both teams produced similar results. Therefore, when the Northrop team reached the
same conclusions, the weight allowance was increased.
By July of 1987 the team had developed an initial plan with which they were
ready to proceed. The design, however, was 9,000 pounds overweight and cost $5
million more per aircraft than the USAF required. They were not concerned, assuming
that further weight restrictions would be waved and certain avionics requirements could
be dropped. However, the USAF decided to stand firm, and the team was forced to
reevaluate their concept.
After considering all the options before them, the team made a difficult decision
and completely trashed their design. A new director of design engineering, Dick
Cantrell, was assigned to the project and on July 13 the team began “one of the most
creative periods of conceptual design for any fighter aircraft” (Hehs 1998). Over the next
three months, the engineers started from scratch to create a new ATF model.
One of the first issues to determine was wing shape. After analyzing various
configurations, the team decided on a diamond-shaped wing, a configuration that was
both structurally strong and aerodynamically efficient. However, the wing design forced
the engineers to alter the tail design which, in turn, drastically affected the forward
fuselage shape. The best design the team could produce, however, still had too much
drag; supercruise was not possible. Luckily, Northrop was having similar issues;
therefore, the USAF dropped the requirement for thrust reversers. This allowed the team
to redesign the engine exhaust nozzles, greatly reducing drag and allowing supercruise.
23
In May 1988 the team froze the
prototype design and construction began with
fuselage parts at General Dynamics’ plant in
Fort Worth, Texas. When these parts were
completed, they were shipped to Lockheed’s
Palmdale, California plant, where the wings
from Boeing’s Seattle factory were waiting.
Somewhat surprisingly, the parts were
assembled with very few problems.
Meanwhile, the plans for the production
model aircraft continued to undergo changes.
24
On New Years Eve, 1990, the Lockheed/Boeing/General Dynamics team
delivered its proposal to the Air Force. The USAF program office examined the designs
present by both teams, as well as both engine types under consideration. They also
closely scrutinized the flight test results of the prototypes. On April 23, 1991, the USAF
announced its decision: the YF-22 design with Pratt & Whitney engines would be the
fighter that would shepherd the Air Force into the 21st century.
Though teaming is not a foreign concept in the defense industry, it can create
many obstacles in a project of the magnitude of the F-22. The Lockheed, Boeing, and
General Dynamics team had many difficulties to overcome in order to build a cohesive
team.
25
Air Force. It showed that the companies were willing to do whatever it took to pool their
resources and develop the best product for the military. Lockheed and Northrop were the
two big winners for the dem/val program, and Northrop had signed a teaming agreement
with McDonnell Douglas. It cannot be determined for sure, but it is reasonable to assume
that the fact that Lockheed and Northrop had created teams helped their chances of
receiving a contract.
As mentioned earlier, a good teaming agreement should be very detailed,
outlining as many contingencies and proposed solutions as possible. The teaming
agreement signed by Lockheed, Boeing, and General Dynamics was a 55-page document
that outlined many of the initial procedures and relationships of team members, dealt with
the legal issues involved, and gave the team a common point from which to start the
design process. It did, however, give the team a good deal of freedom to adapt the
relationship as the project developed.
The teaming agreement dealt with several different areas. First, the contract
discussed the roles and responsibilities of the team leader. It continued on to address
procedures for assigning work obligations among the members. The methods and
responsibilities for preparation of future proposals were outlined as well as the exchange
of proprietary information and patent development. In order to mitigate future
disagreements, the companies outlined the methods they would use to resolve any legal
disputes between them. They also determined the methods to be utilized for cost sharing
as well as cost reporting. Finally, the agreement specifically outlined timelines and
procedures for teaming termination.
The teaming agreement clearly delineated project control and authority. The
winning company, in this case Lockheed, assumed project control and project
management responsibilities. The division-of-work and individual contributions to the
project were not specifically outlined in the teaming agreement. However, the document
laid the ground rules for such contributions. It was decided that each member would
develop its own individual plan for how to divide the work. Once the team was formed
and the dem/val contract was awarded, the members would sit down and negotiate for
design, testing, and production responsibilities, with the winning company’s plan as the
baseline for such bargaining.
26
A major issue that the teaming agreement was forced to deal with was the
exchange of trade secrets and proprietary information. As discussed earlier, the
companies had to be careful not to violate any antitrust laws. Compared to many
industries, the aerospace family is rather small. Moreover, the number of companies
continues to shrink as many firms are forced to shut down or are bought by their
competitors. (Lockheed itself eventually bought General Dynamics; it also merged with
Martin Marietta and today is known as “Lockheed Martin”.) Therefore, the three team
members had to be very careful not to create the impression that they were forming a
“supercompany”. They were able to mitigate many of the government’s concerns by
specifically addressing the methods for teaming termination.
Another aspect that the teams had to consider with the exchange of proprietary
information was the security issues involved. All through the 1980’s, stealth was a
“black” project. The ATF program itself was very secretive. Almost nothing about the
project was released to the public between the times of the dem/val contract award in
1986 until the YF-22 was chosen as the winner in 1991. In fact, during that five-year
period, Col Jim Fain, program director for the USAF, did not give a single on-the-record
comment to the press (Hehs 1998). The teaming agreement itself discussed in detail the
coordination of publicity between the companies. Though procedures for exchanging
information and dealing with the complexities of the government classification system
were outlined in the agreement, many difficulties still arose during the design process, as
will be discussed in the next few pages.
Shortly after the dem/val contract was awarded and upper management first came
together, the engineers themselves and mid- level management had to be organized into a
cohesive unit. This meant combining people from different companies, and, therefore,
different loyalties, into sections that could put aside their differences and develop a
superior product. This was not an easy process, though the managers at the top set a
great example that eventually trickled down to the lower levels of the organization.
27
Once the companies came together, the overall leadership for the project was
assumed by Lockheed, with Sherm Mullin taking the position of overall project manager.
However, he did not have as much authority as the traditional project manager. In fact, in
many ways he had to share control with Randy Kent and Dick Hardy, the program
managers at General Dynamics and Boeing, respectively. Together, the three were the
“ultimate arbitrators” for the design process (Hehs 1998).
In many ways, the team was organized in a traditional aerospace manner.
Sections were formed for the major design areas: aerodynamics, structures, weapons, etc.
These teams contained members from each of the different companies. From a design
standpoint, a specific company was in charge of a specific area; for example, Boeing was
ultimately responsible for the wing design. However, personnel issues had to be dealt
with in a different way. As can be guessed, many engineers had a difficult time accepting
the fact that they were working with the “competition”. In fact, the initial days were very
strained. As Paul Martin, Lockheed deputy chief engineer for design, put it, “We spent a
lot of time convincing each other what great he- men engineers we all were” (Hehs 1998).
What was also surprising to some degree was that the engineers with the most technical
expertise also were the individuals who took the longest to adjust.
To combat the personnel issues that the teaming situation was sure to foster, an
informal chain-of-command was established. If an individual was having problems that
could not be resolved in his or her design section, he or she first went to their company’s
chief engineer in the section. If it could not be resolved at that level, the problem was
elevated to the Mullin/Hardy/Kent level. At first this two- fold organizational structure
might seem detrimental, since an engineer had two individuals to whom he “reported”.
However, it was clearly delineated that technical issues were to be resolved within the
section using the methods determined by the section chief. Eventually, the engineers
began to accept the fact that they were working in an unfamiliar environment, but one
that could foster tremendous advances in technology and creativity. Instead of fighting
the urge to work with the competitor, they began to embrace the opportunity and thrive.
As Kent put it, “I began to sense that we were becoming a more cohesive team when the
aerodynamicists from all three companies began voting against the structural engineers
from all three companies” (Hehs 1998).
28
Another major problem that the team was forced to deal with from an
organizational standpoint was communication. It must be remember that the three
companies were physically scatter across the United States with Boeing based in Seattle,
General Dynamics in Fort Worth, Texas, and Lockheed in California. It also must be
considered that this was taking place in the late 1980’s, before the Internet was as
developed as it is today. On the other hand, the ATF was one of the first fighters to be
developed from the very beginning using computers and computer-aided design (Hehs
1998). Therefore, a system needed to be created to rapidly exchange plans between the
facilities. In 1987, a datalink was installed between the major sites of the three
companies. The link was both encrypted and secure to allow for the transfer of highly
sensitive and secretive data and information.
The companies also had to overcome the fact that they were using different
software programs for the design. General Dynamics had the strongest computer-aided
design capability of the three companies. Therefore, when combined work began on the
YF-22, Lockheed’s concept plan was flown out to Fort Worth to be digitized and entered
in the computer database. However, two things made this process difficult. First of all,
Lockheed’s initial design was simply a concept and not intricately engineered; in other
words, the dimensions for the aircraft parts did not make sense and the computer could
not handle them. Secondly, from the very beginning the design was changing rapidly.
Therefore, to improve the process, General Dynamics was forced to pack up their Perq
computers and ship them directly to the Lockheed facilities. Ironically, once they
arrived, they were unusable for a long time: the systems had to be approved by Lockheed
security before they could be hooked up to existing Lockheed systems. Finally, a
network was established that allowed the YF-22 plans to be digitized. The General
Dynamics program, ACAD, was utilized for 3-dimensional design. Once the parts were
designed they were transferred to Lockheed’s system, known as CATIA, which was used
in the manufacturing process. Though the team members had to overcome some initial
computing and communication obstacles, they were able to develop a system that took
advantage of each other’s strengths to improve the efficiency of the design process.
29
Section 6.3 – Economic Issues
When the companies joined together to create a team, there were several
economic issues that had to be worked out. Luckily, the teaming agreement itself
discussed several of these issues, thus eliminating many initial problems.
One of the items that the teaming agreement dealt with was cost sharing and cost
reporting. Obviously, the companies would be forced to use their own money for the
project, be it for individual salaries or factory overhead. Therefore, procedures had to be
determined for the companies to share not only everyday costs, but also large investments
in research and development.
Secondly, the companies had to develop a common method of accounting. There
are often several different methods for dealing with certain costs, each of which is
perfectly legal and generally accepted. However, one must be consistent with the
accounting procedures used in order to compute accurate results. Therefore, the team
members were obligated to set forth from the beginning common procedures to be used
in order to reconcile expenses within the team.
Though the teaming agreement was thorough in dealing with many accounting
issues, a few problems still developed in the initial stages of the teaming arrangement.
After the first meeting following the dem/val contract award, a group was formed simply
to deal with the economics of the proposals. As part of their individual submissions for
the concept phase of the ATF program, each of the companies had included a detailed
analysis of the proposed costs for the design and construction of a prototype aircraft.
However, as mentioned above, each company used different accounting procedures.
Moreover, the concept phase did not involve direct costs but forced the companies to
estimate the expected costs of the processes. Therefore, differing estimation procedures
had to be reconciled. Moreover, labor is a large factor in the construction of such a
technologically advanced aircraft; thus, differing labor rates could cause drastic variances
in final projected costs. These initial estimation and budgeting difference had to be
resolved in order for the team to start out on a common footing.
30
Section 6.4 – Project Management Issues
31
engineers were very defensive about their concepts. This would be a common occurrence
in any project. However, the differing corporate loyalties exacerbated this problem.
Moreover, there was no well-defined final authority who could make a decision should
negotiations fail. In other words, the group was forced to make decisions by committee.
Many individuals also had difficulty initially thinking about the good of the
project. Instead, they often voted the “party line,” choosing sides based on corporate
loyalties instead of technologically sound data. However, the tone set forth by upper
management event ually filtered down to the individual sections, as the engineers began to
unite around their functional disciplines instead of their employers.
Section 7 – Conclusions
The teaming agreement formed by Lockheed, Boeing, and General Dynamics for
the design and construction of the F-22 brought together some of the aerospace industry’s
best minds in a groundbreaking display of cooperation. The motivations behind the
teaming arrangement were not altruistic, however. The decision to team was a sound
business judgment designed to minimize capital investment risk and improve the team’s
chances of winning the contract.
Many obstacles had to be overcome in order to design the fighter, especially in
the initial stages of the
project. Several of these
problems were common
to any type of project.
Other, however, were
caused by the unique
situation established by
the teaming agreement.
The
Lockheed/Boeing/
General Dynamics Figure 9 - F-22 Raptor Air Superiority Fighter
32
established precedents for future defense industry projects. The V-22 Tilt Rotor aircraft
is one example. Designed for the Navy for short- field troop movements as well as a
search and rescue capability, the “Osprey” was designed by a partnership between
Boeing and Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. The Army’s newest anti-tank missile system,
the Advanced Anti- Tank Weapons System-Medium (AAWS-M), was also designed as a
partnership among industry competitors. The “Javelin” was engineered and
manufactured by Hughes Aircraft Co. in conjunction with Ford Aerospace and Texas
Instrument.
As Dr. Sheila Widnall, former Secretary of the Air Force, stated, “We have used
every tool in the acquisition…tool kit on the Raptor and then we invented new tools.
This is a model program and everyone on the F-22 team is committed to maintaining that
status” (F-22 Rollout 1997). By breaking new ground in the defense industry, the F-22
Team has shown that not only does teaming work well in weapons system development,
it also helps create a higher-quality product. The examples set by Lockheed, Boeing, and
General Dynamics ensure that the aerospace industry will continue to design the best
systems for our nation’s defense. The F-22, meanwhile, will ensure that the United
States Air Force continues to control the skies over the battlefield for the next quarter of a
century.
33
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Beesley, Jon. “Report From the Future”. Code One. Vol. 6, No. 2. (July 1991): n. pag.
Online. Internet. 9 Sep 2002. <http://www.codeonemagazine.com>
Hehs, Eric. “F-22 Design Evolution”. Code One. Vol. 13, No. 2. (April 1998): n. pag.
Online. Internet. 9 Sep. 2002. <http://www.codeonemagazine.com>
Hehs, Eric. “F-22 Design Evolution – Part II”. Code One. Vol. 13, No. 4. (October
1998): n. pag. Online. Internet. 9 Sep 2002.
<http://www.codeonemagazine.com>
Kissick, Ralph L., Esq. “Government Contract Teaming Arrangements: Key Issues”.
Zuckert, Scoutt, & Rasenberger, L.L.P. 2000. Online. Internet. 11 Nov. 2002.
<http://www.zsrlaw.com/publications/articles/PDF/rlk000600Teaming.pdf>
Newnan, Donald G., et. al. Engineering Economic Analysis. 8 ed. New York: Oxford
University Press, 2002.
34
Sweet, Justin. Legal Aspects of Architecture, Engineering and the Construction Process.
6 ed. Pacific Grove: Brooks/Cole Publishing Company, 2000.
United States. General Accounting Office. Defense Procurement: DOD Should Assess
Cost Impact of Contractor Teaming Arrangements. Washington: n.p., April 1992.
GAO/NSIAD-92-15.
Unknown. “F-22 First Flight”. Code One. Vol. 12, No. 1. (January 1997): n. pag.
Online. Internet. 9 Sep 2002. <http://www.codeonemagazine.com>
Unknown. “F-22 Rollout”. Code One. Vol. 12, No. 3. (July 1997): n. pag. Online.
Internet. 9 Sep 2002. <http://www.codeonemagazine.com>
White, John A., et. al. Principles of Engineering Economic Analysis. 3 ed. New York:
John Wiley & Sons, 2000.
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