US Navy News and updates

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barney41

Member
The worry about reduced launch rates is just DOT&E' head Michael Gilmore doing what he does best, making a mountain out of a molehill. EMALS will get reprogrammed to provide a smoother launch whicb will solve the problem. There is an outstanding challenge with the Advanced Arresting Gear which use a novel,"water twister" mechanism to trap aircraft. That's being fixed at the contractor's expense.
 
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NeoIsolationist

New Member
F/A-18 H and I

FormerDirtDart said:
More EMALS teething problems.

Seems it's been determined that catapult acceleration forces will cause over-stressing to Super Hornet and Growler wings when wing fuel tanks are installed.

Software fix will eventually be installed to reduce acceleration forces, but there are concerns the solution it may result in a reduction launch rates.

Navy Jets With Extra Fuel Can’t Be Launched Off New U.S. Carrier - Bloomberg Politics
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heh heh. This is the perfect reason to move forward with the F/A=18H and I variants. At least the integral fuel tanks and new engines. =) Watch it happen. I will not be disappointed.
 
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StobieWan

Super Moderator
Staff member
It's not the first time the Hornet has caused a few changes on catapults - the 18A's occasionally snagged on the catapult track or shuttle, can't remember which on some of the remaining CV's when introduced. Park a centre line tank on them and clunk..
 
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barney41

Member
DARPA continues to work on a MALE UAV that can be operated from
a DDG or even Independence-class LCS. This would provide organic long-range ISR capability for surface combatants, greatly exceeding that of helo-based systems. It would fit nicely in the Distributed Lethality concept to provide targeting data for new long-range weapons systems eg. LRASM, future EMRG, etc for the surface fleet.



DARPA selects two firms to compete for sea-based UAV

AeroVironment and Northrop Grumman will compete to build a Predator-sized unmanned air system (UAS) that can be launched and recovered from a naval patrol vessel, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has announced. The Tern – a name originally assigned as an acronym for “tactically exploited reconnaissance node” – has no immediate customer lined up, but that’s not DARPA’s goal...

DARPA has restricted the bidding teams from revealing most details about their aircraft proposals
 
John Fedup

John Fedup

The Bunker Group
NeoIsolationist said:
heh heh. This is the perfect reason to move forward with the F/A=18H and I variants. At least the integral fuel tanks and new engines. =) Watch it happen. I will not be disappointed.
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The last word I heard on new engines for the advanced Superhornet was running the current ones at full military power which would reduce their service life considerably. I wonder if any testing has been has been done with the conformational fuel tanks that have been prototyped for the SH?
 
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barney41

Member
The Navy is passing the ball to Congress who can insert the needed funds even if unrequested. Save $3B or extend the service life of a CVN for 25 years? Of all the Services, Navy seems to be facing the most challenges.

Updated: Navy Unfunded Request for Carrier Refueling Removed - USNI News
A $796 million line item that would go toward the refueling and overhaul of USS George Washington (CVN-73) was removed from the Navy’s unfunded requirements list, several sources confirmed to USNI News.

The move raises questions if the larger Defense Department establishment is intent on keeping an 11 carrier U.S. Navy, or reduces it by one as a cost savings strategy.
 
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Volkodav

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
Ranger25 said:
Great point,

Bring on the FA18ASH
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But why?

If it was kicked off tomorrow the vastly superior F-35C would still beat it to FOC so just fix the Rhinos they have, introduce the Lightning to regular service and get to work on a long term replacement for the Rhino.
 
StingrayOZ

StingrayOZ

Super Moderator
Staff member
barney41 said:
The Navy is passing the ball to Congress who can insert the needed funds even if unrequested. Save $3B or extend the service life of a CVN for 25 years? Of all the Services, Navy seems to be facing the most challenges.
The move raises questions if the larger Defense Department establishment is intent on keeping an 11 carrier U.S. Navy, or reduces it by one as a cost savings strategy.
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I think this is the core of it, it keeps coming up (however I think congress will fund it). I don't think its impossible to see a 10 carrier navy. However the new carriers will be more capable (and much more expensive) than the old ones so over all I don't see US power declining. If its going to happen I imagine it would be when there are several Fords up and running.
 
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ADMk2

Just a bloke
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
John Fedup said:
The last word I heard on new engines for the advanced Superhornet was running the current ones at full military power which would reduce their service life considerably. I wonder if any testing has been has been done with the conformational fuel tanks that have been prototyped for the SH?
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Yes Boeing has flight tested 'representative' shapes for their intended CFT's and scoped the necessary plumbing work.

I doubt they'll do much more without a contract...
 
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John Newman

John Newman

The Bunker Group
ADMk2 said:
I doubt they'll do much more without a contract...
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I think that pretty well sums it up!

And even if the USN wants (or is forced by Congress) to procure a few more Super Hornets and Growlers in the coming few years I'd imagine that any extra aircraft will be in the current SH and Growler configurations.

Realistically I can't ever see the ASH or an AG go into production, but it's probably reasonable to think that some 'elements' of the proposed ASH/AG, such as the CFT's, may eventually filter through to the existing SH and Growler fleets as 'upgrades', if the USN can see the value, or also has the money, to do so.
 
John Fedup

John Fedup

The Bunker Group
John Newman said:
I think that pretty well sums it up!

And even if the USN wants (or is forced by Congress) to procure a few more Super Hornets and Growlers in the coming few years I'd imagine that any extra aircraft will be in the current SH and Growler configurations.

Realistically I can't ever see the ASH or an AG go into production, but it's probably reasonable to think that some 'elements' of the proposed ASH/AG, such as the CFT's, may eventually filter through to the existing SH and Growler fleets as 'upgrades', if the USN can see the value, or also has the money, to do so.
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If the USN is serious about using their SH/Gs to 2030 then the CFT will likely make sense. No new engines but the enhanced glass cockpit might make it if the price and performance is right.
 
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Volkodav

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
New engines could well be funded for UCAVs though which would make them available for upgrades to the Rhino and Growler fleets. Further improved reliability, economy and reduced maintenance requirements could make their certification on the SH worthwhile, let alone any increase in power, in particular military and sustained maximum power outputs. The holy grail would be a dimensionally compatible engine that could provide sufficient economic military power for a CFT and ordinance pod equipped aircraft to super cruise.
 
ASSAIL

ASSAIL

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
John Fedup said:
If the USN is serious about using their SH/Gs to 2030 then the CFT will likely make sense. No new engines but the enhanced glass cockpit might make it if the price and performance is right.
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I certainly think the USN is serious about mitigating any risk moving towards the F-35C. The unfunded request to Congress makes that quite clear and given the economic circumstance, I doubt that any further development of engines or cockpit will occur.

Navy’s $2.7B Unfunded List to Congress Topped By Electronic Warfare Upgrades, Destroyer Modernization and Aircraft Buys - USNI News
 
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barney41

Member
The USG is putting it‘s money into adaptive engine tech under the AETD program to achieve dramatic improvements in range/fuel efficiency (25%), lower TCO and engine thrust. GE and P&W have competing designs that are intended to power the LRSB and future 6Gen fighter. What's interesting also is that their design must be compatible with the F-35 engine bay. Makes sense to extend the aforementioned benefits to the F-35 fleet which will constitute the backbone of US and many allied air arms for the next 3-4 decades.
I don't see anyone willing to invest the capital needed to build an adaptive engine for aging Legacy jets. Boeing can't even get the Navy to buy into the F414-EPE as the latter sees more value in the EDE.
 
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barney41

Member
USMC aviation is all about applying air power in support of the infantry so it seems appropriate that they get to test drive DARPA's Persistent Close Air Support (PCAS) prototype.
Looks to dramatically reduce by up to a factor of 10 the time it takes to put weapons on target with the added benefit of enhancing overall situational awareness for the different players.


Marine exercise tests DARPA air support system - Military Embedded Systems

Marine exercise tests DARPA air support system

ARLINGTON, VA. During TALON REACH, a U.S. Marine Corps infantry/aviation training exercise involving Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One and the Marine Infantry Officer Course (IOC), DARPA tested the Persistent Close Air Support (PCAS) system. The PCAS program enables sharing of real-time situational awareness and weapons systems data with almost any aircraft.

The exercise integrated automated, digital, and real-time coordination capability into a military aircraft system that included rail-launched munitions, digital data links, and advanced software in support of ground forces.

More at the link.
 
Ranger25

Ranger25

Active Member
Staff member
Quick Question

barney41 said:
USMC aviation is all about applying air power in support of the infantry so it seems appropriate that they get to test drive DARPA's Persistent Close Air Support (PCAS) prototype.
Looks to dramatically reduce by up to a factor of 10 the time it takes to put weapons on target with the added benefit of enhancing overall situational awareness for the different players.


Marine exercise tests DARPA air support system - Military Embedded Systems

Marine exercise tests DARPA air support system

ARLINGTON, VA. During TALON REACH, a U.S. Marine Corps infantry/aviation training exercise involving Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One and the Marine Infantry Officer Course (IOC), DARPA tested the Persistent Close Air Support (PCAS) system. The PCAS program enables sharing of real-time situational awareness and weapons systems data with almost any aircraft.

The exercise integrated automated, digital, and real-time coordination capability into a military aircraft system that included rail-launched munitions, digital data links, and advanced software in support of ground forces.

More at the link.
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Given the deployment of SeaRAM on the LCS, Will the software include HAS mode for engagement of Helicopter, Air, and Surface targets?
 
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