Thrust vectoring

Thrust vectoring, also known as thrust vector control (TVC), is the ability of an <a href="/facts/Aircraft/EhC4mBep">aircraft</a>, <a href="/facts/Rocket/b6j4keIl">rocket</a> or other vehicle to manipulate the direction of the <a href="/facts/Thrust/EM04CqV7">thrust</a> from its <a href="/facts/Engine/p0m7aXaW">engine</a>(s) or motor(s) to <a href="/facts/Aircraft_flight_control_system/4uBmYcHf">control</a> the <a href="/facts/Spacecraft_attitude_control/hE6aMu26">attitude</a> or <a href="/facts/Angular_velocity/2n8JljAT">angular velocity</a> of the vehicle.
In <a href="/facts/Rocket/b6j4keIl">rocketry</a> and <a href="/facts/Ballistic_missile/Pl6juY73">ballistic missiles</a> that fly outside the atmosphere, aerodynamic <a href="/facts/Flight_control_surfaces/wux1lX6A">control surfaces</a> are ineffective, so thrust vectoring is the primary means of <a href="/facts/Flight_dynamics_(fixed-wing_aircraft)/XfrDf3hp">attitude control</a>. Exhaust vanes and <a href="/facts/Gimbaled_thrust/jhBUYw5V">gimbaled</a> engines were used in the 1930s by <a href="/facts/Robert_H._Goddard/tYmyRRta">Robert Goddard</a>.
For aircraft, the method was originally envisaged to provide upward vertical thrust as a means to give aircraft vertical (<a href="/facts/VTOL/Y7CSmfCm">VTOL</a>) or short (<a href="/facts/STOL/8eEcKYEz">STOL</a>) takeoff and landing ability. Subsequently, it was realized that using vectored thrust in combat situations enabled aircraft to perform various maneuvers not available to conventional-engined planes. To perform turns, aircraft that use no thrust vectoring must rely on aerodynamic control surfaces only, such as <a href="/facts/Aileron/700JRzbo">ailerons</a> or <a href="/facts/Elevator_(aircraft)/LPMxWDXk">elevator</a>; aircraft with vectoring must still use control surfaces, but to a lesser extent.
In missile literature originating from Russian sources, thrust vectoring is referred to as gas-dynamic steering or gas-dynamic control.

Thrust vectoring open-in-new

Thrust vectoring