Boagrius
Well-Known Member
Agreed. Ah well I hope the gamble pays off. It will take a better man than I to make it happen
USAF News and Discussion
- Thread starter RobWilliams
- Start date
John Fedup
The Bunker Group
The US fighter duopoly will fight just as the commercial jet duopoly does and US pollies will help LM and Boeing unless they see benefit in killing one off. The consolidation of vendors in all sorts of industries is troubling.
John Fedup
The Bunker Group
NG is a major subcontractor for the JSF so there is no reason they couldn't be considered for future fighters but the B-21 is probably their major priority now. Gruman's last fighter was the Tomcat but most of the talent that produced it are likely long gone.
The KC-46 is to resume cargo and pax flights after Boeing has managed to fix the cargo lock problems and retrofitted the locks on existing aircraft.
Boeing KC-46A to resume cargo and passenger flights after cargo lock fixes
The USAF has named the MH-139 (AW139M) helicopter the Grey Wolf. The MH-139 is replacing the UH-1N which the USAF uses for patrolling its missile fields. 84 MH-139 are being acquired.
The US Air Force’s UH-1N Huey replacement helicopter has a new name
Boeing KC-46A to resume cargo and passenger flights after cargo lock fixes
The USAF has named the MH-139 (AW139M) helicopter the Grey Wolf. The MH-139 is replacing the UH-1N which the USAF uses for patrolling its missile fields. 84 MH-139 are being acquired.
The US Air Force’s UH-1N Huey replacement helicopter has a new name
The USAF have used an AGR-20A Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) laser guided rocket fired from a F-16 to shoot down a BQM-167 subscale drone. This was to test the weapons suitability as an anti cruise missile defence measure. If shown to be fully successful this will be a cost effective method.
F-16 Shoots Down Drone in Test for New Cruise Missile Defense
F-16 Shoots Down Drone in Test for New Cruise Missile Defense
USAF have just competed an elephant walk of 52 F-35 aircraft. Hill Air Force Base Executes The Mother Of All Elephant Walks With 52 F-35s. Impressive and video below.
F-22 Raptor elephant walk
John Fedup
The Bunker Group
The USAF has informed the new Boeing CEO that the KC-46 isn’t mission capable and this must be addressed ASAP. Adding to the new guy’s woes, another minor software problem on the MAX.
Bloomberg - Are you a robot?
Bloomberg - Are you a robot?
The USAF have lost an E-11A in Afghanistan. It went down in Taliban controlled territory with no cause being officially announced, although the Taliban have claimed responsibility for shooting it down. Air Force E-11A aircraft goes down in eastern Afghanistan; US military investigating. The US command in Afghanistan have refused to acknowledge that claim. So far nothing is known about the fate of the crew, but from pictures of the wreck posted on social media, it appears that their probability of survival is possible but slim. Bad weather is hampering rescue / recovery / investigation attempts.
FormerDirtDart
Well-Known Member
The crew (2) and black box were recovered. Was announced yesterday.
Locals had respectfully secured the remains, and turned them over to the recovery team when they arrived
The USAF is developing a VR training program for the C-130 for maintenance mechanics and technicians. This is to reduce the down time of airworthy C-130 aircraft having to be taken off the line for training purposes. Air Force developing virtual reality C-130 maintenance training program
FormerDirtDart
Well-Known Member
Sorry, but can't help but believe that training on the actual items is better. A large part of good maintenance is learning how to see & touch things in cramped/limited space
Todjaeger
Potstirrer
Or find (and then extricate) things which have been dropped or come loose in confined spaces. There are times when I will have to access and either install or remove components by feel, as there is just no way to actually see the area I am working with.
An image of the B-21 has been released by the USAF. New B-21 image shows subtle changes from B-2A design. It is similar to the B-2 but appears to be smaller and lighter. There is an interactive image at this link How New B-21 Stealth Bomber Compares To B-2A | Aviation Week Network
The Pentagon is yet agin proposing to Congress that it retire hundreds of aging fighters and bombers, in order to fund modern capabilities against China and Russia. Legacy U.S. Air Force Fighters, Bombers Are on the Chopping Block Again Congress will be pork barrelling to hell and say no.
FormerDirtDart
Well-Known Member
SOCOM Announces Plans to Buy 75 'Armed Overwatch' Planes via Air Force Magazine
Basically, after more than a decade, SOCOM is no longer waiting on the US Air Force
Good lord, all this started back in like 2007 with the Navy/SOCOM Imminent Fury, followed by USAF Light Attack/Armed Reconnaissance (LAAR), then Combat Dragon II, and OA-X/AT-X. Then the October 2019 USAF announcement to only buy 2 or 3each of the Textron AT-6B and Embraer A-29
What a freaking circus
Basically, after more than a decade, SOCOM is no longer waiting on the US Air Force
Good lord, all this started back in like 2007 with the Navy/SOCOM Imminent Fury, followed by USAF Light Attack/Armed Reconnaissance (LAAR), then Combat Dragon II, and OA-X/AT-X. Then the October 2019 USAF announcement to only buy 2 or 3each of the Textron AT-6B and Embraer A-29
What a freaking circus
Yep, I wouldn't bet the farm on it. I get the impression of a fair amount of politiking within the USAF, USAF vs Congress and within Congress.
I note that the USAF is requesting information for modifications to the US Navy’s AARGM-ER programme that would make that weapon suitable for its F-35A. The so-called Stand-in Attack Weapon (SiAW) would “heavily leverage” the Northrop Grumman-manufactured AARGM-ER, according to a request for information posted online on 9 Jan 2020.
The Compass Call replacement program is also faster and cheaper. Modifications to the first G550 have already began in July 2018 and BAE Systems, which has partnered with L3 Technologies to transition capabilities, says it expects the first two EC-37B with Compass Call to be fielded by 2023, with a total of 10 planned — to replace the aging EC-130H aircraft that has been used since 1981.
According to BAE Systems, the EC-37B is a special-mission Gulfstream G550 business jet that is heavily modified to meet US Air Force requirements and will provide a more modern electronic attack platform thanks to reductions in weight and operating costs, as well as the ability to operate at a higher altitude and at longer ranges. The Compass Call system enables the US Air Force to disrupt enemy command-and-control operations. The system also has enhanced stand-off jamming capability and allows the US Air Force to counter communication and radar threats. Based on a projection of the FY19 defense budget, US$147.2 million will be spent on Compass Call technology development through 2028, and US$436 million will be spent on systems procurement.
Faster and cheaper is the way to go these days — not just for small turbines in UAVs.
The Compass Call replacement program is also faster and cheaper. Modifications to the first G550 have already began in July 2018 and BAE Systems, which has partnered with L3 Technologies to transition capabilities, says it expects the first two EC-37B with Compass Call to be fielded by 2023, with a total of 10 planned — to replace the aging EC-130H aircraft that has been used since 1981.
According to BAE Systems, the EC-37B is a special-mission Gulfstream G550 business jet that is heavily modified to meet US Air Force requirements and will provide a more modern electronic attack platform thanks to reductions in weight and operating costs, as well as the ability to operate at a higher altitude and at longer ranges. The Compass Call system enables the US Air Force to disrupt enemy command-and-control operations. The system also has enhanced stand-off jamming capability and allows the US Air Force to counter communication and radar threats. Based on a projection of the FY19 defense budget, US$147.2 million will be spent on Compass Call technology development through 2028, and US$436 million will be spent on systems procurement.
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