The 149th Fighter Wing at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland recently presented
a one-of-a-kind jet washing robot. The US Air Force has claimed that such a robot can
thoroughly wash an F16 in over an hour, while a team of four specialists usually takes up to six.
Combat aircraft, just like any type of vehicle, require meticulous maintenance, especially if
meant to be used for military operations. For almost 100 years, that duty has rested on the
shoulders of maintenance engineers, who clean and inspect an aircraft before and after each flight.
But the US Air Force is trying new ways to accelerate the process
and use its manpower in other essential areas.
Built under the AFWERX innovation initiative,
Wilder Systems hopes the robot can be rolled out as soon as possible.
The F16 in Action
The General Dynamics F16 Fighting Falcon is a multi-role single-engine fighter aircraft
that has been widely used by the United States Armed Forces since the mid-1970s.
Although it was initially designed to be a day fighter,
the F16 quickly evolved into an all-weather aircraft fit for multiple combat roles.
The Falcon became recognizable for its frameless bubble canopy that significantly
increased visibility and its side-mounted control stick that helped better maneuver.
It is also equipped with an M61 Vulcan cannon and up to ten other weapons, including heat-seeking
short-range air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground missiles, gun pods, or electronic countermeasures.
The US Air Force has been using the F16 Falcon as a close air support aircraft,
flying low-altitude operations to protect friendly ground troops in the Middle East.
During these low-altitude missions, aircraft like the F16
can get exposed to dangerous chemical agents, pieces of debris,
or explosive material that can be harmful to the aircraft’s performance and overall build.
This is why fighter aircraft need to be inspected after use and cleaned methodically.
But such a task can be long and tedious and sometimes takes as long as two days to complete.
In addition, it can compromise the safety
of a friendly base or troops stationed in a combat zone.
But the US Air Force, under the AFWERX innovation initiative, believes they have found a solution.
Cleaning an American Icon
According to data gathered by the US Air Force,
it typically takes a 4-person cleanup team over 6 hours to completely wash an F16 fighter jet.
Armed with goggles, overalls, gloves, and special boots, cleanup crews always share
the risk of getting infected from dangerous material. They use a special soap called aero
wash to meticulously clean the aircraft and get it ready for its next flight.
The accumulation of oil, hydraulic fluids, grease, and other materials such as debris, sand, insects,
or even chemical substances, can be corrosive to any type of aircraft, especially fighter jets.
If not cleaned properly, an aircraft can suffer from structural weakening or failure,
and wheels cracking from corrosion.
During an interview with The Drive, Staff Sergeant Kyle Padgett, a crew chief at Shaw Air Force Base
in South Carolina, said (QUOTE): “These jets are very hard to clean because the grease,
oil hydraulic fluids, and debris that build up over 180 days are difficult to get off the
paint. The landing gear is also hard to clean because there are so many nooks and crannies.”
However, the Air Force has found a solution that could make cleaning easier, faster,
and more effective. Recently, the Texas National Guard’s 149th Fighter Wing from Joint Base San
Antonio-Lackland unveiled a unique washing robot that can clean an F16 in over an hour.
The footage shown depicts a giant yellow robotic arm washing
an F16 equipped with drop tanks. The robot is part of AFWERX, a US Air Force
initiative aimed at developing technology with military and commercial applications.
If the robot proves successful, it would reduce the wash time of an F16 from six to one hours,
and the aircraft’s downtime would also be reduced from two days to only one.
The Air Force believes that the robot could also save lives in the long run, as it could avert
cleanup crews from direct exposures to chemical agents. But more importantly, the aircraft could
take to the skies faster to provide more effective air support to ground troops.
Developed with technology from the Wilder Systems company, the robot will eventually
be able to work alone at night without the presence of airmen analyzing its performance.
Consequently, the personnel dedicated to washing
aircraft can be assigned to other essential duties.
For the time being, the jet washing robot continues to be tested.
With more improvements coming in the near future,
the Air Force aims to introduce these innovative robots in every available base.
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