North America

TEC Torch - a small, hand-held thermal erosive cutting (TEC) torch that cuts through steel bars in two seconds is being developed by EMPI for use by SOF personnel, law enforcement and first responders, used for hot breaching, forced entry and in rescue operations, as well as for the neutralization of explosive devices (EOD-UXO) and thermal destruction of objects and systems on land and underwater.

To keep the F-16 family of fighters running at top performance, operating air forces worldwide are implementing various upgrading programs. The Common Configuration Implementation Program (CCIP) provides a high degree of commonality in hardware and software, thus improving operational flexibility, logistics support and reducing life cycle costs, training. After receiving the F-16 CCIP upgrade, and the M3/3+ software enhancement, USAF...

Global Hawk began its 'career' as an advanced technology demonstrator (ACTD) that was quickly drawn into combat service supporting operation Enduring Freedom in 2002. Since then, the Global Hawk fleet, which was augmented by the Block 10 aircraft, flew over 16,000 hours logging over 10,000 hours in combat missions. The aircraft demonstrated high reliability, achieving 95.8% effective time on...

The U.S. Air Force is developing an automated targeting workflow that would help planners accelerate the targeting cycle, while reducing operational risks of fratricide and collateral damage, by increasing processing automation and precision of targeting products supported by the new “CATALiST” targeting platform.

The Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle is a dual-role fighter designed to perform air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. An array of avionics and electronics systems gives the F-15E the capability to fight at low altitude, day or night, and in all weather. The aircraft has a crew of two - pilot and weapon systems operator. Its avionics suite include an advanced...

The U.S. Army successfully fired a Stinger missile from its newest launch platform last week. The test was part of a demonstration of the Army's new Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2-Intercept (IFPC Inc 2-I) platform's Multi-Mission Launcher (MML).

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI), has recently completed the longest mission of a Predator Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA). The flight performed by a company built launched on February 6 and landed on February 8, 2015 during a 40-plus hour flight conducted at GA-ASI’s Castle Dome Flight Operations Facility located at Yuma Proving Grounds, Ariz.

Lockheed Martin has submitted its final proposal to the U.S. Navy to design, build, integrate and test the new Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) for the future DDG-51 Flight III class destroyer. The scalable AMDR S-band radar and radar suite controller will provide significantly increased sensitivity for simultaneous long-range detection and engagement of advanced anti-ship and ballistic missile...

Over the past two years, US relations with former Soviet Central Asia nations have collapsed, with Uzbekistan removing US Air Force air bases in 2005. For the United States be able to rapidly deploy troops to Middle East and Asian contingency locations, or have Air Force theater strike capability in the future, the US will need new Central Asian...

The Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) - Unitary is shifting into low-rate production status, with the award of $125 million contract for rocket production. Guided MLRS Unitary integrates a 200-pound class unitary warhead into the GMLRS rocket, giving battlefield commanders the ability to attack targets up to 70 kilometers away with high precision. // // This low-cost, low-risk program will...

On Wednesday, Feb 29, 2012 Japan’s Minister of Defense announced that Japan may be compelled to cancel its $4.7 billion order for 42 Lockheed Martin F-35 fifth-generation Joint Strike Fighters unless the manufacturer and the United States government can guarantee that the proposed deadlines will be met and deliver assurances that proposed costs are confirmed. A formal contract is scheduled to be signed this summer or earlier.

Raytheon Company and the U.S. Air Force concluded a series of test flights with the Small Diameter Bomb II (SDB II) culminating in direct hits on targets moving at operationally representative speeds. SDB II can hit targets from a range of more than 40 nautical miles. It has a powerful warhead capable of destroying armored targets, yet keeps collateral...

France has decided to buy two MQ-9 Reaper medium-altitude long endurance (MALE) drones from the USA, to extend the strategic reconnaissance capability of the French Air Force after the current Harfang drones end their planned mission in 2014. The two General Atomics (GA-ASI) MQ-9 Reapers that will be delivered by 2013 year-end. The two drones are not likely to...

Boeing's liquid hydrogen-powered Phantom Eye unmanned airborne system (UAS) completed its second flight Feb. 25. On its second flight the modified drone achieved more than twice the flight duration and altitude, compared to the first flight which lasted only 28 minutes.