Defense Projects and News

Boeing has secured a contract to integrate nuclear-tipped missiles on the B-52H longrange bomber. The USAF (United States Air Force) has awarded Boeing Defense Space & Security a $250 million contract for this purpose. The missiles involved are the Long Range Stand-Off Cruise Missile (LRSO). The new missile will be replacing the old Boeing AGM-86 air-launched cruise missile, which was designed in the mid-1970s and first fielded in 1982.

The United States Air Force (USAF) has grounded its fleet of B-1B Lancers again. This time represents the second occasion the U.S bomber has been pulled from service and again it relates to issues with the ejection seat and on March 28th a fleet-wide grounding of the type happened. The B1-B Lancer is used in a more conventional role these days launching air to ground strike missiles and even precision bombs. Nuclear combat is not in it's brief anymore.

Ilyushin IL-112V prototype has emerged and started testing already.

News is that a Japanese Lockheed Martin F-35A has gone missing. No details have been given for the vanishing of the aircraft at the time. The aircraft was on a night-time training mission with other F-35A's at the time. The aircraft belonged to the 302nd Tactical Fighter Squadron which are based at the Misawa Air Base. However, indications suggest that parts of the aircraft have been found but not the pilot. The US is assisting Japanese crews in trying to find the wreckage.

The United States State Department has approved potential deals that would see the Czech Republic replace its fleet of Mi-24s with the US UH-60M Black Hawk or Bell helicopters. US Defense Security Cooperation Agency says, "the Czech Republic is considering either the UH-60M or UH-1Y/AH-1Z to replace its ageing Mi-24 helicopters".

SB1 Defiant

One of the Royal Australian Air Force's 7 KC-30A MRTTs has been deployed to the Middle East to support coalition forces there. “Despite its territorial defeat, Daesh continues to pose a security threat in the Middle East region and beyond,” says Australia’s Department of Defence (DoD). “The KC-30A will provide important air-to-air refueling capability, which is essential to sustain effective Coalition air operations in the region.” No specifics were given about which air base the MRTT is operating from for obvious reasons.

InstantEye MK3 is a UAV drone essentially and it will be used to gather intelligence by the soldiers who launch them. The UAV has performed such that it can operate up to 2.4 nautical miles from the user and stay aloft for about 30 minutes. Over 15 minutes with standard battery and 27+ minutes with what they term as the Mission Battery. InstantEye Mk-3 GEN4-D1/D2 (HL) can carry up to 3 lbs. of payload under wind conditions up to 20 mph. It can achieve an endurance approaching 20 minutes when used with the Mission Battery. Its Heavy Lift (HL) capability allows it to carry a range of tactical payloads including sensors, illuminators, and long range imaging cameras, all serviced through its standard payload port. The wind handling capability enables highly accurate charge emplacement for IED defeat when used with the system’s remotely activated dropper payload.

A Lockheed Martin F-35A flown by the Japanese vanished from radar screens yesterday and crashed. It is the first reported crash for the Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF). It crashed in the Pacific Ocean less than half an hour after taking off from Misawa Air Base in the Aomori region. The 41 year old pilot lost his life in the crash and the F-35A was less than a year old. He had around 60 hours experience in the F-35A.

The first Lockheed Martin LM-100J

Combat readiness of the A-10 Thunderbolt II

A look at MARINE ONE being changed from one Boeing C-17 Globemaster III to another.

IAI (Israel Aerospace Industries) and Embraer are teaming up to develop an AEW (Airborne Early Warning) based on the platform of the Praetor 600 from Embraer. It is aimed at countries who want AEW capabilities but with smaller defense budgets. The new platform of the Praetor 600 is smaller than the typical AEW platforms but will serve the same purpose. The joint partnership was revealed at the recently concluded 53rd edition of the Paris Airshow in Le Bourget.

It is expected that the Eurofighter Typhoon will be enhanced soon to be able to be more relevant in the current modern war theater. The Eurofighter Typhoon would be placed in a Long Term Enhancement (LTE) program which will see it enhanced and updated. At the recently concluded Paris Airshow, Eurofighter, Eurojet Turbo and the NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency (NETMA), announced the signing of study contracts worth $60.1 million dollars that will support the future development of the Typhoon platform.

A few days ago on the 24th of June, two Luftwaffe Eurofighters collided while in formation. The pair were part of a three-plane exercise practicing when the fatal accident occurred. Two of the single-seat Eurofighters were simulating the intercept of an enemy aircraft (the third Eurofighter aircraft was the enemy plane). The German Luftwaffe says that the aircraft were constantly changing positions at a high-rate of speed and in confined areas and that resulted in the collision. One pilot was killed while one ejected and suffered minor injuries. The third pilot landed safely back at the Air Force base in Rostock. The aircraft were part of the Luftwaffe's 73rd Squadron.

Composite Photo from the 'Aviation Geek Club'

Diamond Aircraft has delivered the next DA62 Special Mission Aircraft to its long-term partner DEA Aviation in the UK. The aircraft is configured as a maritime patrol aircraft including a high performance EO/ IR sensor, a maritime radar as well as a beyond-line-of-sight SATCOM system supplied by DEA.

In a bit of a controversial move, the United States under the Donald Trump administration has approved the sale of new F-16V to Taiwan. Of course this will more than likely only serve to worsen the situation between the U.S and China. The deal has been confirmed but the exact number hasn't been released although several sources cite 66 units of the type. "The sale of F-16s to Taiwan sends a strong message about the US commitment to security and democracy in the Indo-Pacific,”"the statement reads. "As leaders of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, we are pleased the administration is moving forward with this sale and have every confidence that it will be supported on a bipartisan and bicameral basis."

Something of significance in the United States armed forces. U.S. Marine Captain Anneliese Satz flew the single-seat Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II, becoming the first woman to fly the advanced fighter jet. Very few women in general are pilots in the United States overall and much less so in the armed forces. Up until 1990 women were not allowed to fly in combat in the Military. In this photo by Sgt. Ashley Phillips/Marine Corps you can see Captain Anneliese Satz at the controls of this F-35B Lightning II.

The first Saab Gripen E for Brazilian Air Force has completed its first flight. Here is the striking aircraft in this photo from Saab.