Thrust vectoring as the name suggests is the science that controls the direction of the thrust. It is one of the technologies in the aviation industry that is being extensively used in modern aircraft like F-22, F-35 and Sukhoi-35 and will probably become more advanced in the coming years. It is achieved with the help of a modular nozzle that can change the flow of the air from a jet engine. It is also slated to be used in rockets but doesn’t do well in space as thermodynamic surfaces like the Thrust Vector Control (TVC) are rendered ineffective where there is limited or no air.
So, the TVC’s purpose is to control the thrust from a jet engine but it in practicality, it is a lot more complicated than that. By changing the thrust, not only we can control the speed of the plane but also perform force-multiplying manoeuvres like Vertical Take-off and Landing (VTOL), Short Take-off Landing (STOL). Both of them are essential for operating out of aircraft carriers and tight spaces. So, the sensitivity of a TCV nozzle is of paramount importance when it comes to controlling the aircraft or changing its take-off and landing routines.
Here is an amazing video of the TVC of a Eurofighter Typhoon undergoing different kinds of tests. You can probably predict what kind of manoeuvres we are going to experience from each position of the nozzle!