Special Mission

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is introducing a new maritime surveillance, and anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare aircraft at Aero India 2015. The platform is based on a specially modified Bombardier Global 5000 business jet, configured with the new generation ELI-3360 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) system.

The Russian Air Force has contracted the Tupolev design bureau to develop and produce two prototypes of special-mission versions of its Tu-214 commercial transport aircraft, designated Tu-214R, developed under the codename ‘Project 141’.

Thales has unveiled today the a new version of the Searchmaster multirole surveillance radar equipped with active electronic scanning antenna (AESA) technology.

Australia commits to buy six Northrop Gruman MQ-4C Triton maritime surveillance drones, to be fielded beginning in 2023, at an investment of $1.4 billion. The Tritons will operate with manned aircraft to enhance Australian anti-submarine warfare, maritime strike, and search and rescue capabilities.

The Boeing Company confirmed today the submission of a proposal for the U.S. Army Enhanced Medium-Altitude Reconnaissance and Surveillance System (EMARSS). According to Dennis Muilenburg, president and CEO, Boeing Defense, Space & Security, Boeing brings the value of a large system integrator that also is able to work at a fast pace to place tools in warfighters’ hands as...

The U.S. Navy has entered the final phase of development of the Next Generation Jammer (NGJ) pod that will replace the ALQ-99 that has been in use since the Vietnam War. The new electronic attack pod matches advanced electronic-attack technology that combines high-powered, agile, beam-jamming techniques with cutting-edge, solid-state electronics.

A recent technology demonstration conducted by the U.S. Air Force and Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) validated the use of commercial off the shelf (COTS) aero-mobile low-profile Ka-band terminal over DOD Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) system. Test criteria included an airborne bi-directional video teleconferencing session while simultaneously running IP file transfer applications.

Start < Page 5 of 6 > Heavier classes of Joint Precision Airdrop System systems are planned for fielding in the near future. These include the JPADS-L (Light), supporting cargo loads of up to 10,000 lb. rigged weight capability. In 2006 precision air-drops of 6,000 to 10,000 lbs (2.7 – 4.5 ton) guided cargo pallets was demonstrated by the joint military utility...

Australia has invested $73.9 million to complete its investment and enter the US Navy P-8A Poseidon development program as a partner. Once deployed, the Poseidons are likely to be based in RAAF Edinburgh South Australia where the Orions are currently stationed.

Special mission aircraft were among the hottest military topics at Farnborough 2008, highlighting the crucial role such assets provide for national security and operational capability in modern, asymmetric warfare. Among the new aircraft present at the airshow were the Israeli Eitam based on the G550 business jet, unveiled by Gulfstream and IAI, and the Erieye 2000 AEW&C aircraft based on...

VTOL Advanced Reconnaissance Insertion Organic Unmanned System (VARIOUS), a concept of an advanced aerial recon- and support vehicle, is designed to support Special Forces and expeditionary units of marines, as an organic asset. In the next decade or later, VARIOS could assume the role envisioned for the FireScout, meeting a future naval requirement for a 3 – 4 ton...

The US Air Force Special Operations Command is planning to use air-launched drones to enable Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) AC-130 aerial gunships and MQ-9 Reaper drones to operate in all weather conditions, particularly above the clouds.

Northrop Grumman will enhance the capabilities of its Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS), installed on the fleet of E-8C Joint STARS aircraft. The enhancements will introduce improved mobile target precision tracking and engagement capability with the radar's Land/Maritime Mode (ELMM). The technology to be used for the upgrade is an outgrowth of the successful DARPA Affordable...

French Rafale jet fighters struck a suspected Islamic State target in Iraq for the first time yesterday, (Friday, Sept. 19) expanding a U.S.-led military campaign against ISIS. The French Rafales hit "a logistics depot of the terrorists" near the city of Mosul.