US Military Aviation Special Report Hide
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US Army ahead of ITEP schedule despite CDR delay
The Critical Design Review (CDR) phase of the US Army's Improved Turbine Engine Programme (ITEP) has been delayed by two weeks because of COVID-19 issues. …
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SOF seeks integration help to counter unmanned aircraft
US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) is seeking industry white papers for its C-UAS Systems Integration Partner (CUxS SIP) requirement. In an RfI published on 17 April, USSOCOM …
Digital Battlespace
Fire Scout set to gain Link 16
Northrop Grumman is set to receive new contracts from the US Navy over the next two years to integrate Link 16 on the MQ-8C Fire …
Defence Helicopter
US Army counts down to AH-64E V6 operations
The US Army will aim to have the new AH-64E Apache Guardian V6 configuration in service during Q1 2022 following flight training with the first …
Air Warfare
U-2 Dragon Lady shows plenty of life
A popular phrase in the US is ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’. In aviation, one could think of the DC-3 and the 747, …
Air Warfare
COVID-19 poses practical and strategic questions for US air power
The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has changed just about everything, including US air power. The effects are likely to be felt for years, including a downturn …
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Training
USN’s new CH-53K simulator ready for action
5th May 2020
US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has taken delivery of its first CH-53K King Stallion helicopter training simulator at MCAS New River in Jacksonville, North …
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Digital Battlespace
Ampex chosen by NAWCAD for mission system avionics
5th May 2020
Ampex Data Systems has been selected by the Naval Air Warfare Centre Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) to provide mission system avionics, mission system computers/processors, displays and …
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Defence Notes
BAE Systems completes acquisition of Raytheon radios business
5th May 2020
BAE Systems has completed its acquisition of the Airborne Tactical Radios business of Raytheon Technologies, following a definitive agreement reached in January 2020. The radios …
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Air Warfare
USMC adjusts its air power priorities
4th May 2020
In issuing the Force Design 2030 report into the future direction of the USMC, the corps is attempting to steer the course of its development, …
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Air Warfare
USAF expands hypersonic efforts with plans for another prototype
4th May 2020
The USAF has announced plans to commence a hypersonic cruise missile prototype programme on behalf of the DoD, in an effort to foster a scramjet …
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Digital Battlespace
US Army programme blends cyber with traditional EW
3rd May 2020
Lockheed Martin is set to expand its work on the US Army’s Multi-Function Electronic Warfare Air Large (MFEW-AL) programme, with the aim of combining EW …
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Air Warfare
USAF eyes small flying car fleet by 2030
1st May 2020
The USAF has launched a campaign to enter the electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) market, setting a goal to have 30 flying cars in …
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Defence Notes
US fixed-wing programmes look to rise above crisis
1st May 2020
Substantial investment by the US DoD in major fighter jet and tanker aircraft programmes — combined with the economic fallout from the COVID-19 coronavirus crisis — has put …
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Training
MetaVR to assist USAF Reaper training
1st May 2020
The USAF Joint Systems Integration Lab (JSIL) has placed an order for an additional 171 MetaVR Virtual Reality Scene Generator (VRSG) licences for the MALET-JSIL …
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Digital Battlespace
CACI awards AFSCN contract to Serco
30th April 2020
Serco announced on 29 April that it has secured a £25 million contract ($31 million) contract from CACI for control, maintenance and operation of the …
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Air Warfare
Cost considerations and politics drive USAF choice for LRSO
29th April 2020
The US Air Force’s selection recently of Raytheon Technologies as sole-source contractor on the Long Range Stand Off (LRSO) programme, ahead of a concept solution …
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Uncrewed Vehicles
FTUAS competitors take heart from US Army adjustments
29th April 2020
The US Army has approved Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) competitors to video test flights and associated acceptance procedures of their respective systems, as an alternative …
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Defence Helicopter
Spotlight shines on US presidential helicopters
29th April 2020
A recent report from the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) acknowledges that the presidential helicopter programme is within cost goals but asserts that some technical …
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Training
Red 6 LVC visual solution shows promise
29th April 2020
One issue with the numerous airborne LVC trials and evaluations that have taken place over the past decade or so has been the inability to …
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Military Logistics
Technical issues linger with KC-46, says CRS
28th April 2020
The US Congressional Research Service (CRS) last week released the latest update of its background document for the KC-46A Pegasus tanker aircraft (pictured). New information …
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Air Warfare
VIDEO: Progress continues with FVL
28th April 2020
The US Army initiated the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) programme in 2018 to develop a replacement for its attack and scout helicopters as part …
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Digital Battlespace
USAF nuke protection teams gain comms upgrade
28th April 2020
USAF security forces tasked with protecting nuclear weapons are receiving enhancements to their communications systems. On 8 April, Persistent Systems announced that it had received …
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Training
AI drives new approach to pilot training
28th April 2020
The FlightSmart integrated pilot performance evaluation and training tool from FlightSafety International (FSI) has completed acceptance testing with the 14th Flying Training Wing at Columbus AFB in Ohio. FlightSmart …
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Air Warfare
US eyes B-1 for prototype air-launched hypersonic strike capability
27th April 2020
The USAF plans to upgrade B-1 Lancer bombers (pictured) to carry substantial loads of some of the most advanced long-range munitions in the US inventory, …
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Defence Notes
Boeing terminates MTA with Embraer, triggering protest
27th April 2020
Boeing announced on 25 April that it has terminated its Master Transaction Agreement (MTA) strategic partnership with Embraer, the day after it was due to …