The center, which will control radars and sea-based tracking in real time, will include electronic warfare systems.
By Agnes HelouOfficials and executives want to focus on mission systems and algorithms; seekers; lethal packages; propulsion; and materials, structures and electronics.
By Andrew White“Every day, [the T-38] becomes just another step more disconnected from the advanced avionics, advanced sensing, the advanced processing that our modern fighters have. And so we can’t fill that void fast enough,” said Air Combat Command head Gen. Mark Kelly.
By Valerie Insinna“Our focus is to get the sensors and information architecture correct. We might have to change other capabilities out for that if necessary,” said Jez Holmes, Head of the RAF’s Rapid Capabilities Office.
By Andrew WhiteFabrizio Boggiani, senior vice president of airborne marketing, says he sees “significant opportunities” for expanding Leonardo’s market share by selling mission packages to international institutions and countries who don’t “want to buy and own the asset, but want us to fly where they ask us to fly.”
By Theresa HitchensWASHINGTON: The UK is ready to start deploying the first batch of its new F-35 fighter overseas, the country’s top defense official said Thursday, while introducing a slew of new cruise and attack missiles for its Typhoon jets. The announcement of Initial Operational Capability (IOC) for nine F-35Bs comes weeks after the Royal Navy…
By Paul McLearyThe latest version of Israel’s Trophy defense system stopped more than 95 percent of roughly 300 missiles and rockets shot at it in Israeli tests this summer, laying the groundwork for US Army testing this fall on the 8×8 Stryker armored vehicle.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.The head of Strategic Command must be very happy this evening, having learned that the Air Force is finally buying a new helicopter to guard America’s ICBM fields. The Boeing-Leonardo team won the contract to supply 84 helicopters.
By Colin ClarkFARNBOROUGH AIR SHOW: Are the biggest air shows becoming no-fly zones for military aircraft? Dominated today by the seemingly unending competition between Airbus and Boeing to see who announces the most commercial aircraft orders, this year’s show offers a very thin gruel of military aircraft flights or military aircraft on display. A UK F-35B flew…
By Colin ClarkWith its eyes firmly on Russia, the US Army is racing to field 8×8 Strykers with an array of weapons that can down enemy aircraft — from drones to helicopters to jets — and incidentally make enemy tanks think twice. The first prototypes will be delivered next year, with up to 144 (four battalions) by…
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.Even as the US Army races to install Trophy Active Protection Systems on its M1 Abrams heavy tanks, Trophy’s manufacturers are testing slimmed-down versions they want to sell the US for lighter vehicles, especially the aging M2 Bradley troop carrier. While other technologies look promising, Trophy is still the only non-Russian system that’s combat-proven to…
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.WASHINGTON: Senate appropriators want to give the Army $75.4 million to kick-start its new scout aircraft, but key authorizers told us they are skeptical. (House appropriators are so far silent). The crucial questions: Can a manned, low-altitude, lightweight aircraft survive against the Russian threat? And can the Army afford the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA)…
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.AFA: Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky is on track to deliver nine new HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopters to the Air Force for the price the company promised and six months early — a “man bites dog” story, the very definition of news. Delivering early and for the promised price is far from the norm in defense acquisition,…
By Richard Whittle