Latest news with #Martin-Baker
India.com
2 days ago
- General
- India.com
7,790, 7,791, 7,792… This British Company Reveals The Secret Behind Pakistani Fighter Jets Downed During Operation Sindoor
New Delhi: London-based Martin-Baker builds ejection seats for some of the world's most advanced fighter jets. It keeps a running count of every life saved through its products. Each time a pilot ejects safely, the number goes up. Each time that happens, the British firm posts an update. They do not say which aircraft went down in combat. They also do not confirm which country lost the jet. But the tally changes. On 16 April this year, the firm put out a post, as cited by The Print, 'Yesterday, a Pakistan Air Force Mirage V ROSE aircraft crashed near Ratta Tibba, Vehari. Both pilots successfully ejected using the Martin-Baker PRM4 seat.' The update set the total at 7,784 lives saved. Then came 7 May. Another post appeared. 'Yesterday, a USN F/A-18F Super Hornet from VFA-11 crashed into the Red Sea after a failed arrestment occurred during a night landing on the USS Harry S. Truman. Both air crew successfully ejected using the Martin-Baker US14A (NACES) Seat,' it said. The new total climbed to 7,788. On the same day, Martin-Baker reported a different accident. 'Earlier today, a Finnish Defence Force (FDF) F/A-18C Hornet crashed while practising for an air show near Rovaniemi in Lapland. The pilot successfully ejected using the Martin-Baker SF-14A (NACES) Seat,' the company posted. That made it 7,789 lives saved. Yet something did not add up. The numbers 7,785 and 7,786 never appeared with any public incident. That gap pointed to at least one unreported crash, possibly two. The company's next public update came on July 31. 'Yesterday, an A-29A Super Tucano was involved in a midair collision over Porto Ferreira. The pilot successfully ejected using the Martin-Baker BR10LCX Ejection Seat,' it posted. That brought the total to 7,793. No Indian Air Force crash matched the missing figures. The only loss in that period was a Jaguar on a training sortie. Both pilots died without ejecting. The mystery could have an answer. On Saturday, Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh said India's S-400 Triumf air defence system had shot down five Pakistani fighter jets during an 88-hour conflict in May. Pakistan's JF-17 and F-16 fighters carry Martin-Baker ejection seats. The Chinese-built J-10s do not. The timing of the missing figures fits the days of the conflict. That makes a strong case that at least three Pakistani pilots pulled the Martin-Baker handle and lived to tell the tale. The British company stayed silent on the combat link. Its numbers, however, spoke volumes.
The Print
3 days ago
- General
- The Print
Secret to Pakistan aircraft losses in Op Sindoor could lie in Martin-Baker's ejection seats records
They also don't give details of aircraft lost in conflict because of the secrecy pact involved. But they do update the numbers of lives saved. Whenever a pilot using Martin-Baker seats ejects safely, they update the numbers. They post when pilots make a successful ejection, but not when a fighter has crashed or the pilots ejected, but unsuccessfully. New Delhi: On 7 May this year, as India and Pakistan entered into what was to be an 88-hour conflict, British firm Martin-Baker, which manufactures ejection seats for top fighters around the world, posted on social media that they had saved 7,789 lives in all until then. On 16 April, the company posted, 'Yesterday, a Pakistan Air Force Mirage V ROSE aircraft crashed near Ratta Tibba, Vehari. Both pilots successfully ejected using the Martin-Baker PRM4 seat.' The post said 7,784 lives had been saved until that date. On 7 May, Martin-Baker posted on X saying, 'Yesterday, a USN F/A-18F Super Hornet from VFA-11 crashed into the Red Sea after a failed arrestment occurred during a night landing on the USS Harry S. Truman. Both air crew successfully ejected using the Martin-Baker US14A (NACES) Seat.' They updated the total lives saved figure to 7,788. They posted another crash detail as well on 7 May, saying: 'Earlier today a Finnish Defence Force (FDF) F/A-18C Hornet crashed while practising for an air show near Rovaniemi in Lapland. The pilot successfully ejected using the Martin-baker SF-14A (NACES) Seat,' which took the total lives saved to 7,789. But this updated figure does not account for 7,785 and 7,786. So, details of at least one crash if not two were missing between 16 April and 7 May involving two pilots. The next update from Martin-Baker came on 31 July, announcing the saving of 7,793 lives in total. 'Yesterday, an A-29A Super Tucano was involved in a midair collision over Porto Ferreira. The pilot successfully ejected using the Martin-Baker BR10LCX Ejection Seat,' the post read. The only crash the IAF has had after 7 May was a Jaguar on a training sortie, when both pilots unfortunately could not eject and died. The answer to the puzzle of the missing details surrounding the three lives (7,790, 7791, 7792) saved by Martin Baker ejection seats could be in what IAF chief Air Chief Marshal A.P. Siingh said Saturday. He said that India's S-400 Triumf air defence system had shot down Pakistan's 5 fighter aircraft. The Pakistani fighter jets using Martin-Baker seats in the 88-hour conflict were the JF-17 and F-16s. The J-10s use Chinese-made ejection seats. A correlation between Martin-Baker's posts and what the IAF chief said indicates that at least three Pakistani pilots managed to eject despite their aircraft being shot down, indicating confirmation of the IAF chief's statement. (Edited by Viny Mishra) Also read: IAF chief breaks silence on Op Sindoor—6 Pakistani aircraft shot down by S-400, many destroyed on ground
Forbes
29-07-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
Bremont MB Meteor Revives The Titanium Orange
MB Meteor Orange Bremont has introduced the MB Meteor, the latest evolution of its long-standing partnership with Martin-Baker, the British ejection seat manufacturer. For 16 years, the MB series has been an important collection for the brand, known for its rugged durability and aviation pedigree, with each model undergoing the same extreme testing used on ejection seats. Orange barrel The MB Meteor features a slimmer Trip-Tick case construction crafted from lightweight Grade 2 titanium, improving its wearability. It is available with either a black or silver dial, both designed for improved legibility. A key visual element makes a welcome return: the vivid orange central barrel, developed through extensive R&D to match the original MB tone. This colour is applied using a Cerakote ceramic coating over titanium, chosen for its strong adhesion, thermal stability and resistance to wear. As with all MB models, the Meteor undergoes testing protocols created in partnership with Martin-Baker. These include live ejection tests, high-impact vibration testing, and exposure to extreme temperature cycles, assuring its credibility as a true aviation-grade tool watch. MB Dial Inside, the MB Meteor is powered by a chronometer-rated automatic movement with a 38-hour power reserve. The 43 mm titanium case offers 100 meters of water resistance and is fitted with a screw-down crown for additional security. Anti-reflective sapphire crystal protects the dial, while a solid titanium case back completes the lightweight yet robust construction. The MB Meteor represents a refined balance of Bremont's British engineering approach and practical tool-watch execution. Two dial options, both framed by the distinctive orange barrel, link the new model back to the earliest MB designs and the bold aesthetics of the original collaboration.
BBC News
31-01-2025
- BBC News
Palestine Action targets Buckinghamshire ejection seat firm
Pro-Palestine activists have admitted breaking into and damaging the headquarters of a company that makes aircraft ejection Action claimed Buckinghamshire-based aircraft firm Martin-Baker was "known to supply ejection seats for Israel's F-35 fighter jets".Thames Valley Police said two people wearing dark clothing and face coverings used a hammer, crowbar and spray paint to damage a building in the early hours of which is in Denham, has been contacted for comment. Israel and the Palestinians: History of the conflict explainedWhat is Hamas and why is it fighting with Israel in Gaza?Palestine Action said it smashed office windows with hammers and painted the building Valley Police has appealed for witnesses and information about the incident at Con Ben Flaherty said: "We take incidents of criminal damage seriously." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
USA Today
29-01-2025
- USA Today
More problems for the costly F-35 jet: Another just fell from the sky
More problems for the costly F-35 jet: Another just fell from the sky Show Caption Hide Caption F-35 fighter jet crashes in Alaska A pilot was able to safely eject before his F-35 fighter jet crashed at an Air Force base in Alaska. A pilot in Alaska safely ejected from an aircraft on Tuesday before it plummeted to the earth, culminating in a fiery explosion at an Air Force base that was captured in dramatic video footage. It was the latest crash involving the F-35 stealth fighter jet, the military's most expensive weapon system that has been credited with revolutionizing modern American warfare but has also gained a reputation for its setbacks, high costs and safety concerns. Officials have not said what exactly led to Tuesday's crash, only that the pilot experienced an "in-flight malfunction." The accident mirrors several similar crashes in recent years in which pilots were forced to eject from the stealth fighters. Last May, a pilot in New Mexico was seriously injured after he ejected from an F-35 before the fighter jet crashed near an airfield in Albuquerque's main airport. In September 2023, a pilot ejected from an F-35 and parachuted into a backyard in Charleston, South Carolina. The jet flew unmanned for several minutes before it crashed into a field some 60 miles away. The manufacturer of the jet's ejection system used Tuesday's accident to brag about its reliability: "The pilot successfully ejected using the Martin-Baker US16E seat. This was the 10th successful ejection from the F-35," said a post from the official X account of Martin-Baker, the British manufacturing company. The F-35 program is estimated to top at least $2 trillion over the coming decades, the U.S. Government Accountability Office said in a report last year, citing the U.S. Department of Defense. Meanwhile, delays and high prices associated with the military's F-35 program has drawn the ire of President Donald Trump and his ally Elon Musk. Before becoming president, Donald Trump tweeted in 2016 that the F-35 program's 'cost is out of control,' promising he would rein costs in once he took office. More recently, Musk ‒ who Trump tapped last year to co-lead the Department of Government Efficiency ‒ took aim at the program, raising questions about the fighter jet's future. "The F-35 design was broken at the requirements level, because it was required to be too many things to too many people. This made it an expensive & complex jack of all trades, master of none," Musk said in a post on X in November. "Success was never in the set of possible outcomes. And manned fighter jets are obsolete in the age of drones anyway. Will just get pilots killed." The jet's manufacturer Lockheed Martin did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Brief history of the F-35 The F-35 was unveiled in 2006 but it was not used in military operations until 2015, when the Marine Corps declared it mission ready. The fifth-generation fighter made waves with its ability to fly stealthily past enemy radar and defense systems. A mapping system also allows it to accurately direct its own missiles – or those from other planes, ships, submarines or ground stations – to targets they've identified while airborne. There are three variants of the F-35 for different branches of the military: F-35A for the Air Force, F-35B for the Marines and F-35C for the Navy. The F-35B can take off and land vertically, similarly to a helicopter. Last May, the U.S. Government Accountability Office estimated there were about 630 F-35s across the military and plans to buy about 1,800 more by the mid-2040s. But, as recently as 2023, the percentage of fighters ready for use was about 55%, according to the nonpartisan government agency that provides reports and guidance to Congress and heads of executive agencies. F-35 plagued by manufacturing delays, soaring costs In a report to congressional committees, the watchdog agency said last year that the Department of Defense planned to spend over $2 trillion to buy, operate and maintain F-35s through 2088. In May 2023, the Government Accountability Office said the jet was more than a decade behind schedule and $183 billion over original estimates. Costs to maintain the fleet have increased 44%, from $1.1 trillion in 2018 to $1.58 trillion in 2023, the agency said. The increased costs and delays are, in part, to keep up with emerging technology. The Department of Defense in recent years has pursued a $16.5 billion modernization effort to outfit the jets with better radar, weapons and technology systems, according to the Government Accountability Office. The program has also worked to upgrade its engine to add some additional power and prevent it from overheating. The military is using F-35s less these days The military plans to use the fighters less often, mostly as a cost saving measure. Over the course of the last few years, the Air Force and Navy have reduced their projected annual flying times by 19% and 45%, respectively, the GOA said in a report to congressional committees. The U.S. Marines have also announced reductions in F-35 flying times. "In part because of this reduction in flying, the services are now projecting they will meet most of their affordability targets," the agency said. There was another main factor ensuring military services would hit affordability goals: "the Air Force increased its affordability target from $4.1 million per aircraft per year to $6.8 million per aircraft per year," according to the Government Accountability Office. Contributing: Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY; Reuters
