All articles by James Drew – Page 11
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NewsLockheed offers T-X glimpse in press invitation
Lockheed Martin might finally put to rest whether it intends to offer the Korea Aerospace Industries T-50 or a separate clean-sheet design for the US Air Force’s upcoming advanced pilot training competition known as T-X.
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NewsNew report recommends White House kill B61-12 and LRSO
The Centre for American Progress has proposed sweeping cuts to the US nuclear arsenal including the elimination of the B61 consolidation and new standoff cruise missile as a way of realising $120 billion in savings over 30 years.
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NewsUSAF considers defensive lasers for future fighters
The dawn of the combat laser era might begin in 2021 when the US air force hopes to begin demonstrations of a podded electric laser system for fifth and sixth-generation fighter jets that can destroy incoming missiles, not just dazzle them.
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NewsF-35A cost and readiness data improves in 2015 as fleet grows
The cost of operating the Lockheed Martin F-35A has come down 37.6% compared to last year and is now $17,000 cheaper to fly per hour than its fifth-generation cousin, the Lockheed F-22 Raptor.
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NewsDOD reveals ‘arsenal plane’ and microdrones in budget speech
The Pentagon is building an repurposed “arsenal plane” that would carry large volumes of bombs and missiles into battle alongside modern combat aircraft like the Lockheed Martin F-35.
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NewsPentagon report questions ‘unrealistic’ F-35 test schedule
The Pentagon’s chief weapons tester says an operational evaluation of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II could be delayed by up to one year because of difficulties completing developmental testing by the due date of August 2017.
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NewsBoeing receives first contract of Air Force One recap
One year after being announced as prime contractor, Boeing is formally on contract to replace America’s 747-200-derived "Air Force One" fleet with up to three modified 747-8 widebodies.
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NewsVIDEO: Boeing 737 Max completes maiden flight
Boeing’s lead 737 Max the “Spirit of Renton” defied Seattle’s seasonal drizzle to complete its maiden flight today, taking off over Lake Washington in front of thousands of cheering employees, who the company is hailing for having completed an “extremely clean airplane” marginally ahead of schedule.
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NewsBoeing secures deal for 20 US and Australian P-8 Poseidons
Boeing will supply 16 more armed P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to the US Navy and four to the Royal Australian Air Force under a $2.5 billion contract announced this week.
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NewsHungary-based C-17 crews to train in UK
Strategic Airlift Capability (SAC) C-17 aircrews will soon begin training on Boeing-owned simulators in the UK under an $8 million contract negotiated by the US Air Force.
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NewsDesign review to unlock Sikorsky HH-60W funds
US air force’s Combat Rescue Helicopter programme is on track to complete a preliminary design review in April that will unlock funds for five more aircraft.
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NewsRaytheon and Northrop to receive JSTARS radar contracts
The US air force is poised to award sole-source contracts to Raytheon and Northrop Grumman for the development of their competing active electronically scanned array radars as part of its Northrop Grumman E-8C JSTARS recapitalisation effort.
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NewsLockheed posts upbeat outlook as defence spending rises
Lockheed Martin chief executive Marillyn Hewson says the company ended 2015 “strategically and financially stronger” following the acquisition of Sikorsky and bump-up in F-35 Lightning II procurement funding for 11 more US aircraft in fiscal year 2016.
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NewsBoeing correcting course as KC-46A refuels F-16C
The US Air Force is optimistic about awarding the first production contract to Boeing for the developmental KC-46A, following a flight test in which the 767-derived tanker transferred 725kg (1,600lb) of fuel to a Lockheed Martin F-16C – the most significant trial of its refuelling systems to date.
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NewsTaiwanese F-16A crashes in Arizona desert
A Taiwanese F-16A operating from Luke AFB in Arizona has crashed and the pilot is presumed dead, according to a base spokesman.
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NewsUS general says B-52 overflight caught North Korea’s attention
North Korea did not shrug off the recent overflight of a 55-year-old B-52H bomber near Seoul that was escorted by US and South Korean combat jets, according to vice chairmen of the US joint chiefs of staff Gen Paul Selva.
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NewsF-35 fires AIM-9X as Raytheon snags next-gen weapons contract
The US Air Force has for the first time successfully test fired a Raytheon AIM-9X passive infrared missile from a Lockheed Martin F-35A over the Point Mugu naval range in California.
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NewsDOD official: World faces ‘Terminator conundrum’ on AI weapons
The US military faces “the Terminator conundrum” when it comes to artificially intelligent killing machines, including unmanned aircraft and loitering munitions.
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NewsNew search for VTOL UAVs may resurrect Bell tiltrotor
Several years after losing interest in the Northrop Grumman MQ-8 Fire Scout, the US Army is again searching for a “long-range, runway-independent” UAV that can launch anywhere, anytime.
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NewsBell preparing to affix V-280 wing as ‘Valor’ takes shape
Bell Helicopter begins 2016 with final assembly of its V-280 next-generation tiltrotor 23% complete and on target for first flight in September 2017, with the next major milestones being mating of the wing and fuselage in April.