In the above picture, a uniquely shaped rescue crane effortlessly lifts an F-35B fighter jet with an empty weight exceeding 14 tons, demonstrating the strength of a "strongman". This is the first new aircraft crash rescue and salvage crane (hereinafter referred to as the rescue crane) delivered by the US Navy's General Aviation Support Equipment Program Office. This type of support vehicle is mainly used to lift damaged fighter jets or conduct salvage and rescue operations on the deck of aircraft carriers or amphibious assault ships. The importance of its "role" is such that the US Navy even prohibits carrier based aircraft from taking off and landing operations without rescue cranes on the deck. Rescue cranes are usually powered by electricity, with a maximum lifting weight of 30 tons. They can not only lift malfunctioning or damaged aircraft, but also lift large components during maintenance for comprehensive repair or replacement of new parts. The current rescue crane "Tilly" of the US military is divided into aircraft carrier type and amphibious assault ship type, both of which have been in service for decades. They use large suspension rods similar to those on tank rescue vehicles, and the lifting system consists of sturdy fixed arm arms and multiple sets of pulleys, which have a larger lifting capacity and better stability than single arm cranes. The main "service targets" of "Tilly" are the US Navy's F/A-18E/F "Super Hornet" fighter jets and AV-8B "Harrier" vertical takeoff and landing fighter jets. As the US Navy welcomes two new carrier based fighter jets, the F-35C and F-35B, the old rescue crane "Tilly" is gradually unable to meet the rescue and support needs of the new fighter jets. The new rescue crane is also divided into aircraft carrier type and amphibious assault ship type. Unlike the "Tilly" that uses a fixed lifting system, it adopts a telescopic lever arm, which stands up and extends during operation, and is retracted after work, reducing the space occupied by vehicle parking. At the same time, to ensure the stability of lifting, the boom does not have a rotating function, but moves through a mobile chassis. For this purpose, the engineer designed three pairs of load-bearing wheels, one large and two small (as shown in the picture above). In times of war or emergency, the new rescue crane can lift damaged fighter jets from the deck and throw them into the sea, promptly clearing the flight deck for other fighter jets to take off and land. This job may seem ordinary, but in fact it not only concerns the success or failure of carrier based aircraft missions, but also directly affects the sustained combat capability of aircraft carrier battle groups. In addition, when aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships dock, the new rescue crane can directly lift damaged fighter jets from the deck to the flatbed truck at the dock for timely repair. (New Society)