Tag: U.S. Air Force
Business Jets as Alternative for the E-8C JSTARS
Two industry groups are proposing business aircraft platforms as an alternative for the US Air Force JSTARS replacement. The Air Force is planning to retire the existing Boeing 707-based E-8Cs from 2025-2026 and is expecting to have at least four of the new planes in production by 2023.
Space News Roundup – December 2012
Lockheed wins $1.9 billion contract for two U.S. satellites
Lockheed Martin has won a contract valued at $1.9 billion to build two additional advanced military...
Raptor Pilots Talk in Public about Hypoxia Effects
Hypoxia (oxygen depravation) conditions often affecting pilots during and after flying in F-22s remain unsolved even after comprehensive investigation launched after the 2011 loss of an Alaska based pilot. While the F-22 returned to operational flying, at least 11 new cases were reported since the Raptors resumed their flights, CBS 60 Minutes reported.
New Fighter Acquisition Uncertainty Revving Up F-15 Prospects
Recent orders for F-15 fighters from Saudi Arabia are securing the future for the Boeing F-15 production line at least until the year 2018....
U.S. Air Force to Receive a More Powerful ‘Predator C Plus’
The U.S. Air force has awarded General Atomics a contract to build a third prototype of the stealthy Predator C Avenger unmanned aircraft. General Atomics has already built two such aircraft and is planning to build two more, at least one is now being funded by the U.S. Government. According to David A. Fulghum of Aviation Week, these new ‘Avenger’ versions will be more powerful and will carry more payloads than the first two prototype competed in 2009. A second Avenger flew for the first time in April 2010. The Air Force has allocated $15 million for the first aircraft but the program is expected to grow in size.
Successful Test of the U.S. Army Hypersonic Weapon Concept
The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command conducted the first test flight of the Advanced Hypersonic Weapon (AHW) concept. The mach 5 glide weapon was developed as part of the Pentagon’s US$600 million Conventional Prompt Global Strike (CPGS) program, aimed at providing U.S. military services with conventional attack weapons capable of striking anywhere on earth within less than 60 minutes.
BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman to Develop Anti-Jam ‘NAVWAR Sensors’ for the...
The U.S. is embarking on a development of a future Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver to better cope with hostile electronic attacks. Last week the Air Force awarded two contracts worth $47 million each to BAE Systems and Northrop grumman, for the development of ‘navigation warfare’ (NAVWAR) Sensor that could replace military GPS receivers used on aircraft and missiles.
Raytheon AIM-9X Block II Air/Air Missile
The Raytheon AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder air/air missile has passed 'Milestone C' on June 30, 2011 - clearing the program for Low Rate Initial Production. Raytheon is expected to begin production of more than 5,000 operational AIM-9X Block II rounds for U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force over the life of the program.
First Production F-35s Join Training Wing at Eglin, FLA
The first pair of production Lightning II aircraft deployed this week to join the 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. The Integrated Training Center at Eglin AFB is expected to operate a fleet of 59 F-35 fighters at the peak of the training activities here.
Global Observer Crash on Test Flight from Edwards
An unmanned aircraft crashed early Friday around 2:30 a.m. near the southwest corner of Rogers Dry Lakebed off the Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.,...
Lockheed Martin Receives $34.5 Million Contract For Paveway II Plus Laser...
Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $34.5 million contract from the U.S. Air Force for production of paveway II Plus Laser Guided Bomb (LGB)...
Satellite Imagery, U-2 Chart Japan’s Earthquaqe, Tsunami Devastation
As Japan copes with the aftermath of the 8.9 magnitude earthquake and tsunami that struck March 11, earth reconnaissance satellites and aerial reconnaissance aircraft...
Guardian Add-On Missile-Defense System Being Tested on a KC135 Tanker
A U.S. Air National Guard's KC-135 air refueling aircraft equipped with the Northrop Grumman Guardian Anti-Missile Defense System has completed air worthiness flight testing. The aircraft, operating with the 190th Air Refueling Wing (ARW) began flight testing on January 11, 2011 and is scheduled to continue the Operational Utility Evaluation (OUE) activities through the second quarter of 2011, to include additional flights and system tests at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.
X-37B Space Plane Scheduled for 2nd Flight Tomorrow
The launch of the second X37B Space Plane is scheduled for tomorrow. The unique capability of this plane appears to be its ability to return from orbit and land autonomously on a runway. But the Air Force has not disclosed the specific mission this plane is designed for. "The space plane is an extravagant system without a convincing mission" Dr. Laura Grego of the UCS comments.
