The U.S. Air Force has reached out to the weapons industry regarding a hypersonic cruise missile that can be launched from a fighter jet or bomber. The service is aiming to conduct a preliminary design review by 4th quarter 2021. The future program could leverage work already done by the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Air Force Research Laboratory on the Hypersonic Conventional Strike Weapon to help speed the way for rapid prototyping. Read more from Valerie Insinna of DefenseNews: WASHINGTON — The U.S. Air Force is seeking information from industry about hypersonic cruise missile … [Read more...]
U.S. Army Wants Unmanned Future Attack Aircraft
Sikorsky and Bell were selected by the U.S. Army in March 2020 to compete for the future attack recon aircraft (FARA). Bell’s 360 Invictus will go up against Lockheed Martin-owned Sikorsky’s X2-equipped Raider X for final prototyping. Some of the features the U.S. Army want are navigation capabilities in GPS-denied environments, a 20mm cannon, speeds upwards of 200mph, and optional manned/unmanned capabilities. Matthew Cox of Military.com reports: U.S. Army modernization officials have asked aviation firms for ideas on equipping the service's future scout helicopter with mission systems such … [Read more...]
U.S. Installs Air Defense Systems in Iraq
U.S. air defense systems are now active in Iraq following threats from Iranian-backed insurgents. The Patriot batteries will protect against long-range threats while the Army’s C-RAM system will be used to counter rockets and mortar. The more sophisticated Avenger air system will handle low-flying missiles and aircraft like drones and helicopters. Lolita Baldor of the Associated Press writes: New air defense systems are now protecting American and allied forces at military bases in Iraq where troops have been attacked by Iranian-backed insurgents in recent months, according to U.S. … [Read more...]
High Energy Laser Weapon Takes Next Step for Deployment in 2021
Lockheed Martin’s High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical-dazzler and Surveillance (HELIOS) has met the U.S. Navy’s requirement’s to be integrated onto an Arleigh Burke destroyer. HELIOS will undergo systems integration and testing this year and will look to deploy in FY 2021. The 60kW+ laser will counter emerging threats from fast inshore attack craft and drones. Lockheed Martin’s press release from March 11, 2020 reads: Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) and the U.S. Navy moved one step closer to integrating a laser weapon system onto an Arleigh Burke destroyer after successfully conducting a … [Read more...]
U.S. Military Scales Back Major Military Exercise
The U.S. military is scaling back DEFENDER-Europe 20, an exercise the Army has spent years building. Initially, the training exercise called for 20,000 troops, but on Wednesday, March 11, the U.S. European Command announced that the number was being cut back. The 60-day DOD travel ban to level 3 countries went into effect on March 13. Military.com writes: DEFENDER-Europe 20 was set to be the biggest deployment for an exercise in 25 years, , with 20,000 soldiers deploying from the U.S. and training with 17,000 allies. "In light of the current coronavirus outbreak, we will modify the … [Read more...]
Solar Unmanned Aircraft with Potential to Stay Airborne for a Year Takes Flight
BAE Systems’ solar-powered high-altitude unmanned aircraft called PHASA-35 took its maiden flight in February 2020, just under two years from its start date. The aircraft has the potential to fly in the stratosphere for a year and would help plug the gap between aircraft and satellite technology, providing 5G year-round surveillance and communications for the military and commercial customers at a fraction of the cost of satellites. The aircraft is powered by the sun during the day and runs on batteries at night. Read more from the BAE Systems press release: PHASA-35, a 35m wingspan … [Read more...]
Pentagon Report Finds ‘Unacceptable’ Flaws in the F-35’s Gun
The F-35 program has been moving quickly to fix hundreds of deficiencies but is only seeing a minor decrease in the overall number. As fixes are being made, new deficiencies are being found. An annual assessment by Robert Behler, the Defense Department’s director of operational test and evaluation, says “software changes, intended to introduce new capabilities or fix deficiencies, often introduced stability problems and adversely affected other functionality.” One of the most notable deficiencies is in the F-35A accuracy of its GAU-22A gun, which the director of the Pentagon’s Operational Test … [Read more...]
Was Downing of U.S. Air Force’s E-11A “WiFi in the Sky” in Retaliation for Soleimani Strike?
US Air Force spokesman Colonel Sonny Leggett has confirmed that one of the service’s four E-11A’s (11-9358) has crashed in the Afghanistan province of Ghazni. The E-11A BACN is described as a “WiFI in the sky” aircraft and is instrumental in bridging airspace and ground communications to warfighters in communications-challenged environments. The BACN fleet is comprised of four E-11A manned systems and four EQ-4B Block 20 Global Hawk UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles). They provide lifesaving communications to soldiers on the ground and are instrumental in thousands of airstrikes. BACN’s first … [Read more...]
U.S. Military Locking Its Sights on Multi-Domain Operations
Experimental equipment is paving the way for multi-domain operations. A recent and highly publicized and anticipated test off the coast of Florida in December of 2019 used experimental equipment developed by Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Honeywell called “GatewayONE.” It is a radio and antenna system that allows two-way data transfer between an F35 and F22. The Air Force plans on testing GatewayONE on a Kratos XQ-58 Valkrie drone in April of 2020. Oriana Pawlyk of Military.com fills us in on future tests the U.S. Air Force is planning, she writes (abridged): The U.S. Air Force plans … [Read more...]
Key Figures in U.S. Airstrike that Killed Soleimani
The key figures in the January 3 U.S. airstrike that killed Qassem Soleimani have been identified, most notably Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy commander of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and commander of Kataeb Hezbollah. Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis was listed as a terrorist in the United Arab Emirates and the United States. Some security experts are divided on whether Muhandis was specifically targeted or if he was a bonus kill. Iranian and Iraqi officials have so far confirmed the U.S. attack killed ten people in addition to Soleimani. Rikar Hussein and Mehdi Jedinia of Voice of … [Read more...]