All United States Air Force articles – Page 9
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NewsLockheed will use GE Aerospace CF6 engine to power future tanker design
The military airframer says it has selected GE Aerospace to provide powerplants for its Airbus A330-based LMXT aerial tanker concept, although demand for the platform remains uncertain.
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NewsUS Air Force denies report of AI-powered UAV attacking operator
The Pentagon says the US Air Force pilot in charge of artificial intelligence testing misspoke when he reported that an AI-enabled drone went rogue and attacked its operator, in defiance of orders.
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NewsOvertaxed F-35 engines rack up $38 billion in extra maintenance costs
US government auditors say a failure to improve output and cooling capacity on the Pratt & Whitney F135 engine powering the Lockheed Martin F-35, while simultaneously increasing the load from heat-producing sensors and radar, has significantly increased wear on the powerplant and the cost of keeping the fifth-generation type flying.
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NewsB-2s returned to flight status five months after grounding
The US Air Force has removed a flight hold it instituted on the Northrop Grumman strategic bombers after an undisclosed issue led to an emergency landing in December that damaged one of the multi-billion-dollar aircraft.
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NewsUSAF officially opens bidding on sixth-gen fighter initiative
The US Air Force is now accepting proposals for its secretive Next-Generation Air Dominance effort to develop a sixth-generation fighter platform.
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NewsUSAF tests anti-drone swarm energy weapon
The Air Force Research Laboratory says it successfully defeated a so-called “drone swarm” in recent tests using a microwave energy system.
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NewsFirst aircraft arrives at new USAF E-11 squadron
The US Air Force is in the process of more than doubling its fleet of the specialised battlefield communication aircraft, based on the Bombardier Global 6000 business jet.
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NewsKratos confident of ‘leadership position’ in developing autonomous jet aircraft
While the American technology developer is much smaller than massive competitors in the defence sector, Kratos executives say they enjoy a sizeable lead over legacy aerospace manufacturers in developing a cheap, pilotless jet aircraft.
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NewsUSAF commandos land MC-130, A-10s on Wyoming highway
Special operations commandos and pilots with the US Air Force successfully landed UAVs, fighter aircraft and a multi-purpose tactical transport on a rural stretch of roadway during recent exercises.
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NewsDefence leaders in Washington warn of debt default
As lawmakers and the Biden Administration debate raising the US government’s borrowing limit, civilian and uniformed military leaders say unpredictable budgets will set back critical modernisation and procurement programmes.
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NewsUSAF now targets early 2030s for fielding stealthy aerial tanker
Speaking during budget hearings in Washington, the top civilian administrator for the US Air Force says he wants to begin production of the still-conceptual Next Generation Air-refuelling System in the early 2030s.
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NewsRaytheon reveals AI-powered target identification sensor
Dubbed “intelligent sensing” technology, Raytheon says its new Raiven system will pair artificial intelligence with electro-optical and infrared imaging to rapidly identify objects from the air in real time.
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NewsFirst E-3s retired as USAF prepares for E-7 purchase
The US Air Force plans to retire 13 of the Boeing E-3 airborne warning and control system jets, which Congress allowed in exchange for procurement of the more advanced Boeing E-7.
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NewsUSAF begins long-sought A-10 retirements
The service has for years sought to phase out the iconic ground attack jet in favour of more modern platforms, but only received congressional approval to do so this year.
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NewsLockheed moves to double production of Pacific-focused long-range missiles
Lockheed Martin recently began production at a second facility that will churn out the advanced, precision munitions as the US government prepares to expand stockpiles of those weapons.
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NewsBoeing to upgrade KC-46 fleet with anti-jamming, better encryption
The US Air Force will pay Boeing $184 million for a package to upgrade communication systems on the KC-46A refuelling jet, including for better encryption and anti-jamming capability.
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NewsUSAF to drop Lockheed hypersonic weapon programme after failed test
The Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon had a mixed record, with numerous technical challenges early in development and a recent failed test.
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NewsUSAF adds 54 AESA radars to F-16 modernisation order
The $128 million contract adds to a similar order last November aimed at modernising the US Air Force’s fleet of multirole Lockheed Martin F-16 fighters.
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NewsNorthrop will supply MESA sensors to planned USAF E-7 fleet
Northrop Grumman will provide its Multi-role Electronically Scanned Array long-range sensor for the fleet of Boeing E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning and control jets the US Air Force plans to purchase.
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NewsLockheed Martin F-35 crashes at Utah air base, pilot ejected
An investigation is under way into the crash at Hill AFB, which is home of the US Air Force’s F-35 flight-demonstration team and a combat fighter wing.