Systems of a Modern Military Aircraft
|
System
Domain |
System
Category |
Major
Subsystems |
|
Aircraft Structure |
Fuselage |
Frames, bulkheads, stringers, fuselage skins |
|
Wing Structure |
Wing box, spars, ribs, skins |
|
|
Tail Assembly |
Vertical stabilizer, horizontal stabilizer |
|
|
Control Surface Structure |
Ailerons, elevators, rudder, flaps, slats |
|
|
Structural Attachments |
Wing–fuselage joints, engine mounts |
|
|
Composite Structures |
Carbon fiber skins, honeycomb panels |
|
|
Stealth Structures |
Radar absorbing materials, edge alignment |
|
System
Domain |
System
Category |
Major
Subsystems |
|
Propulsion System |
Air Intake System |
Intake ducts, boundary layer diverters |
|
Engine Core |
Fan, compressors, combustor |
|
|
Turbine Section |
HPT, LPT stages |
|
|
Exhaust System |
Exhaust nozzle, thrust vectoring |
|
|
Augmentation |
Afterburner system |
|
|
Engine Controls |
FADEC |
|
|
Engine Mounting |
Mount structures and isolators |
|
System
Domain |
System
Category |
Major
Subsystems |
|
Engine Accessory Systems |
Accessory Drive |
Accessory gearbox |
|
Starting System |
Starter motors, air starters |
|
|
Generator Drive |
Electrical generator drives |
|
|
Pump Drives |
Hydraulic pumps, fuel pumps |
|
System
Domain |
System
Category |
Major
Subsystems |
|
Fuel System |
Fuel Storage |
Wing tanks, fuselage tanks |
|
External Fuel |
Drop tanks |
|
|
Fuel Transfer |
Transfer pumps |
|
|
Fuel Supply |
Boost pumps |
|
|
Fuel Control |
Fuel metering unit |
|
|
Refueling System |
Probe or boom refueling |
|
|
Fuel Monitoring |
Quantity sensors |
|
System
Domain |
System
Category |
Major
Subsystems |
|
Hydraulic System |
Hydraulic Power |
Engine driven pumps |
|
Fluid Storage |
Hydraulic reservoirs |
|
|
Energy Storage |
Accumulators |
|
|
Fluid Distribution |
Hydraulic pipelines |
|
|
Hydraulic Actuation |
Flight control actuators |
|
|
Hydraulic Consumers |
Landing gear actuators, brakes |
|
System
Domain |
System
Category |
Major
Subsystems |
|
Electrical System |
Power Generation |
Engine driven generators |
|
Energy Storage |
Aircraft batteries |
|
|
Power Conversion |
Transformers, rectifiers |
|
|
Power Distribution |
AC/DC buses |
|
|
Electrical Protection |
Circuit breakers |
|
|
Bonding and Grounding |
Bonding straps, grounding network |
|
System
Domain |
System
Category |
Major
Subsystems |
|
Flight Control System |
Primary Controls |
Ailerons, elevators, rudder |
|
Secondary Controls |
Flaps, slats, spoilers |
|
|
Control Actuation |
Hydraulic actuators |
|
|
Electronic Control |
Fly-by-wire computers |
|
|
Stability Systems |
Stability augmentation |
|
System
Domain |
System
Category |
Major
Subsystems |
|
Environmental Control System |
Air Supply |
Bleed air system |
|
Cooling System |
Air cycle machines |
|
|
Pressurization |
Cockpit pressurization |
|
|
Avionics Cooling |
Cooling ducts and fans |
|
System
Domain |
System
Category |
Major
Subsystems |
|
Avionics Systems |
Navigation |
INS, GPS |
|
Communication |
UHF/VHF radios |
|
|
Radar |
Airborne radar |
|
|
Electronic Warfare |
Radar warning receiver |
|
|
Mission Systems |
Mission computers |
|
|
Display Systems |
HUD, MFD screens |
|
|
Data Networks |
Military data buses |
|
System
Domain |
System
Category |
Major
Subsystems |
|
Landing Gear System |
Main Gear |
Main landing gear struts |
|
Nose Gear |
Nose gear assembly |
|
|
Retraction |
Retraction actuators |
|
|
Braking |
Wheel brakes |
|
|
Steering |
Nose wheel steering |
|
System
Domain |
System
Category |
Major
Subsystems |
|
Engine Oil System |
Oil Storage |
Oil tank |
|
Oil Pumping |
Pressure pumps |
|
|
Oil Scavenge |
Scavenge pumps |
|
|
Oil Cleaning |
Oil filters |
|
|
Oil Cooling |
Oil coolers |
|
|
Oil Monitoring |
Pressure and temperature sensors |
|
System
Domain |
System
Category |
Major
Subsystems |
|
Pneumatic System |
Bleed Air |
Compressor bleed extraction |
|
Pneumatic Distribution |
Pneumatic ducts |
|
|
Pressure Control |
Pressure regulators |
|
System
Domain |
System
Category |
Major
Subsystems |
|
Ice Protection Systems |
Wing Anti-Ice |
Heated leading edges |
|
Engine Anti-Ice |
Intake heating |
|
|
Sensor Heating |
Pitot heating |
|
|
Windshield Heating |
Transparent heating |
|
System
Domain |
System
Category |
Major
Subsystems |
|
Weapon Systems |
Missile Systems |
Air-to-air missile launchers |
|
Bomb Systems |
Bomb racks |
|
|
Gun Systems |
Internal cannons |
|
|
Weapon Control |
Fire control computer |
|
|
Targeting Systems |
Laser targeting pods |
|
System
Domain |
System
Category |
Major
Subsystems |
|
Safety Systems |
Escape Systems |
Ejection seats |
|
Fire Protection |
Fire detection loops |
|
|
Fire Suppression |
Fire extinguishing bottles |
|
|
Oxygen Systems |
Pilot oxygen supply |
|
|
Emergency Systems |
Emergency power |
Engineering
Perspective
A modern fighter aircraft typically includes
approximately:
- 60–80 major aircraft systems
- 300–400 subsystems
- thousands of mechanical, electrical, and electronic components
From a systems engineering viewpoint, the
aircraft can be considered as four integrated engineering domains:
|
Domain |
Core
Function |
|
Structural Domain |
Strength and aerodynamic form |
|
Propulsion Domain |
Thrust generation |
|
Energy Domain |
Hydraulic, fuel, electrical power |
|
Information Domain |
Avionics, sensors, mission systems |
.