Military: The U.S. Navy bets on V/STOL: Integrating technological advances on a broad front is the key to successful vertical/short takeoff and landing aircraft

Discusses the trend of integrating technological advances as the key to successful sea-based vertical/short takeoff and landing aircraft. Among the major technologies proposed are the following: Composite-material and manufacturing quality-control techniques that would yield light, superstrength substances like graphite and boron epoxies for use on most of an aircraft´s structure; development of reliable, relatively lightweight, digitally controlled power systems; multiplexed fiber-optic data-interconnecting systems; advanced data-processing techniques; and RF radars based on conformal antennas covering large portions of the aircraft, and advanced sensors for passive surveillance.