Integrated multi-role variable sweep wing aircraft

Abstract

Canards are pivotally mounted on the fuselage of a variable sweep wing jet aircraft and project laterally with respect to the fuselage forwardly of the wings. The canards are positioned and configured to produce pitch control moments about the center of gravity. Thrust-vectoring devices extend from the jet engines of the aircraft for varying the thrust direction of such engines. A control system is mounted in the fuselage and extends to the wings, the canards and the thrust-vectoring devices for controlling the wings in angular positions relative to the fuselage, controlling the canards in rotary position relative to the fuselage and controlling the thrust-vectoring devices to control the thrust direction. The positions are controlled in coordination to overcome pitch departure, deep stall and spin, which might otherwise occur due to lack of nose-down pitch power, while also optimizing supersonic cruise and transonic maneuver performance of the aircraft.