The findings of a report completed in 2019, by think tank RAND Corporation, examining the U.S. field artillery branch showed that during decades of focus on counterinsurgency operations in the Middle East, the U.S. Army’s ground fire capabilities were neglected. So much so that the U.S. Army, now greatly outgunned by its adversaries, is trying to play catch up in long range precision fires capabilities. Michael Peck of the National Interest digs into the U.S. Army’s big gun problems. He writes (abridged): The problem is what American artillery has atrophied, Russia’s has not. “During the long … [Read more...]
China Has Developed an Anti-Stealth Radar the Size of a ‘Clothes Hanger’
Chinese scientists have purportedly created a new metric wave radar array the size of a "clothes hanger," and it can be mounted just about anywhere. They can detect and track America's most advanced and potent stealth fighters like the F-22. Christopher McFadden of Interesting Engineering writes (abridged): Chinese scientists have allegedly developed an anti-stealth radar that could be quietly and easily set up almost anywhere, including a rooftop, reported South China Morning Post. Anti-stealth radar systems often need a big antenna to pick up the weak signature of stealth planes that use … [Read more...]
Russian Rocket Engines being Replaced with American Made
The Northrop Grumman Antares rockets used to fly NASA cargo to the International Space Station (ISS) have been using Russian RD-181 engines. Now, those engines are being replaced with American-made Firefly Aerospace engines. The decision to switch engine manufacturers came when Russian officials halted exports of rocket engines to the U.S. in March in response to U.S. sanctions. Micah Maidenberg of The Wall Street Journal reports (abridged): A new version of a Northrop Grumman Corp. NOC -1.58%▼ rocket that flies NASA cargo to the International Space Station is expected to use U.S.-made … [Read more...]
GHOST SHIPS: Unmanned Vessels Appear at RIMPAC
A total of four unmanned surface vessels sailed alongside crewed ships at RIMPAC 2022. The exercise took place on June 22, and allowed the U.S. Navy to share data and test out the AI capabilities of the unmanned ships to see how they would operate in larger fleets. Two of the unmanned ships that appeared were the USV Ranger and USV Nomad which form a portion of the Navy’s “Ghost Fleet.” Both ships are essentially unmanned seagoing flatbed trucks. Ranger and Nomad can carry active sensors like radars, and even weapons. Back in September, Ranger showcased its ability to launch SM-6 Missiles from … [Read more...]
U.S. Struggling to Meet Submarine-Building Targets
The U.S. Navy’s Virginia-class submarines have seen delays in production thanks to manufacturing bottlenecks and slowdowns caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The delays affect not only the U.S. Navy, but the Australian Navy as well, which has signed deals to purchase nuclear powered submarines from the U.S. as part of the AUKUS alliance announced last year. The delays in production of Virginia-class submarines have ended any hope in Australia of getting submarines from the U.S. any time soon. The shortcomings have pushed submarine-building targets back for decades, reports Tory Shepherd of The … [Read more...]
U.S. on Fast Track for Hypersonic Weapons Development
DARPA’s Hypersonic Air-Breathing Weapons Concept (HAWC) just completed its third successful flight in early July. HAWC’s third test allowed the exploration of flight and scramjet engine envelopes. Read DARPA’s full press release below: DARPA’s Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC), a missile program conducted in partnership with the U.S. Air Force, completed another successful free flight in early July. This is the second demonstration vehicle built by Raytheon Technologies to meet test objectives. The first Raytheon flight was in September 2021. It was followed by success with a … [Read more...]
LASER WALL: Israel’s New Weapon Straight Out a Sci-Fi Movie
On April 14th, 2022, Israel successfully tested its laser interceptor system called Iron Beam. It's the first energy-based weapons system that uses a laser to shoot down incoming UAVs, Mortars, and rockets at a cost of $3.50 per shot compared to Iron Dome’s Tamir interceptor, which costs between $20,000-$100,000 each. It's been reported that Israel fires two Tamirs at each incoming target to ensure success. Paul Iddon of Forbes tells us, "The first variant of the system is ground-based. And the official also disclosed that there will also be air and even space-based Iron Beam systems in the … [Read more...]
RAIDER X Shows Its Teeth with Weapons Upgrade
Sikorsky Aircraft has released photos of its new Raider X helicopter fuselage sitting in a hanger complete with a 20 mm chin-mounted main gun and Hellfire missiles on a retractable modular effects launcher (MEL). The MEL pods could be loaded with other munitions—including air launched drones—and are capable of retracting to reduce drag during flight. Dan Parsons of The War Zone writes (abridged): Sikorsky has released new shots of its Raider X prototype aircraft sporting modular weapon launchers loaded with Hellfire missiles and a 20mm main gun. This prototype Sikorsky's pitch for the U.S. … [Read more...]
X-Plane: Revolutionizing Aircraft Design & Flight
Recently DARPA selected multiple performers to continue the Control of Revolutionary Aircraft with Novel Effectors (CRANE) program. Aurora’s X-Plane is a candidate for the CRANE Program, and its technologies, including what’s known as Active Flow Control (AFC) could potentially improve efficiency and performance for both commercial and military aircraft. Aurora Flight Sciences is working with Lockheed Martin Corporation in Phase 1 of the project. Phase 1 activities include system requirements development, initial design work, software development, and initial airworthiness tests that aim to … [Read more...]
Military Tests Using AI to Choose Targets in Battle
Valiant Shield is a biennial, U.S.-only, joint Field Training Exercise focused on the integration of U.S. forces in relation to current operational plans. This year it took place in Guam. During one of the exercise’s drills, the Navy tested DIAMONDShield’s artificial intelligence (AI) technology to analyze operational command and control data in real-time. The AI recommended which ship, aircraft, or ground vehicles should respond to which incoming threat. Megan Eckstein of Defense News reports (abridged): Lockheed Martin and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command demonstrated an artificial intelligence … [Read more...]
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