US Air Force, When Special Operations MH-53 Pave Low helicopter crews discovered they were even more vulnerable to small arms fire than they thought, they put out a call for help. That call was answered by a team from the 330th Special Operations Support Group, now called the 580th Aircraft Sustainment Group.
What had alarmed the Pave Low crews was finding that a rifle bullet had penetrated their chopper from below, and made it into the crew compartment. They use ballistic blankets on the floor of the aircraft which are supposed to stop such penetrations, but a combination of age and contamination by fuel and hydraulic fluid rendered the blanket less useful in ballistic protection. Since all MH-53 Pave Lows used the same blankets, and since their work frequently exposes them to the risk of small arms fire, the special operators wanted something done fast.
A combat mission needs statement was written in July 2005, with a requirement for new lightweight armor for six aircraft, plus three sets of spares. Installation was to be accomplished in Iraq. Headquarters, Special Operations Command quickly followed with a requirements definition for what the new armor was supposed to protect against, and a statement of work was placed under an umbrella contract. Time from requirement to contract was just nine days.
US bomber joins air drill with South Korea, Japan
South Korea, Japan, and the United States on Sunday conducted a joint air drill involving a heavy bomber, Seoul's military...
