All Department of Defense articles – Page 18
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NewsF-35 profitability could suffer after losing cheap manufacturing in Turkey
Ankara was booted from the Joint Strike Fighter programme in July 2019 after the country decided to buy the Russian-made Almaz-Antey S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile battery.
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In depthThe Pentagon’s five principles for stopping artificial intelligence from running amok
The DoD believes it must pursue AI or it will be leapfrogged by adversaries such as China and Russia who could use the technology to prevail on a future battlefield, for example, by using software to obverse and react to the USA faster. It also thinks restrictions on AI must be set up.
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NewsU-2 spyplane fleet gets new high-powered camera
The electro-optical and infrared camera is to provide more precise, long-range tracking of stationary or moving targets in a wider range of weather conditions.
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NewsUS Air Force retires aircraft and looks to future war in $169bn budget proposal for 2021
While the total is unchanged from years prior, the service is asking to increase research and development in order to meet upcoming threats from China and Russia by 2030.
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NewsUS Navy flies two EA-18G Growlers autonomously; third Growler used as controller
In total, four flights were conducted at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, says manufacturer Boeing on 4 February. The aircraft demonstrated 21 missions, though the type of missions were not disclosed.
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NewsLockheed Martin F-35 has 873 deficiencies
The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II has 873 unresolved deficiencies and new problems are being discovered regularly, making reducing the number of issues with the aircraft difficult.
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NewsUS Coast Guard MH-65 helicopter upgrades start full-rate production
Full-rate production means the US Coast Guard plans to convert 22 examples of the Eurocopter MH-65D per year into the “E” configuration
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NewsGeneral Atomics to demo MQ-1C Gray Eagle as tactical ballistic missile spotter
The purpose of the flights is to show the US Army that the aircraft, when fitted with long-range radar and air-launched effects, can serve as a target spotter for the service’s next generation of tactical ballistic missiles, the Long Range Precision Fires system.
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NewsDynetics X-61A Gremlins makes first flight, but destroyed after parachute fails
The aim of DARPA’s Gremlins is to create low-cost UAVs that could be air-launched and recovered in swarms. The aircraft could be used for a variety of applications including as a surveillance platform or as a loitering munition.
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NewsSierra Technical unveils ‘faster’ and ‘more manoeuvrable’ stealth UAV
Sierra Technical Services recently completed several ground tests, including an engine test run, on its Fifth Generation Aerial Target (5GAT) aircraft.
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NewsUS Navy picks Leonardo TH-119 for next helicopter trainer fleet
The deal represents a hard-fought win for Leonardo, who defeated Bell’s light, singe-engined 407GXi and Airbus Helicopters’ light, twin-engined H135.
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NewsLockheed Martin delivers 134 F-35 stealth fighters in 2019
Lockheed Martin delivered 134 examples of its F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter in 2019 to the US military services, international development partners and Foreign Military Sales customers.
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NewsBell discloses booster engine for 360 Invictus
Bell’s 360 Invictus, the company’s proposal for the US Army’s Future Armed Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) competition, will receive a power boost from a supplemental power unit, a Pratt & Whitney PW207D1 turboshaft.
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DoD warns China exporting killer autonomous drones to Middle East
China is exporting unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) to the Middle East which are capable of launching autonomous attacks.
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USA approves $4.5bn upgrade package for 98 Japanese F-15Js
The US State Department approved a $4.5 billion package to upgrade 98 examples of Japan’s Mitsubishi F-15J Eagle air superiority fighter fleet.
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Anduril unveils drone-smashing Interceptor UAV
Startup Anduril Industries unveiled its drone-smashing Interceptor unmanned air vehicle (UAV) on 3 October.
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NewsUS Navy plans cargo UAV fly-off competition in January 2020
The US Navy (USN) plans to host a fly-off competition in Yuma, Arizona in January 2020 to find a tactical cargo resupply unmanned air vehicle (UAV) for the US Marine Corps (USMC).
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NewsF/A-18 and EA-18 reach 80% mission capability as F-35 struggles
The US Navy’s (USN) Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler have surpassed an 80% mission capability rate, complying with a directive set by former defense secretary Jim Mattis for fighter and strike aircraft to exceed that rate by September 2019.
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NewsUSMC looks for high-speed replacement to Bell UH-1 and AH-1
The US Marine Corps issued a request for information for its Attack Utility Replacement Aircraft (AURA) programme, formally launching its search for a rotorcraft to succeed the Vietnam War-era Bell UH-1 utility and Bell AH-1 attack helicopters.
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Lockheed Martin F-35 and F-22 to miss 80% mission capability rate
The US military’s fleet of Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II and F-22 Raptor stealth fighters will fail to meet a 80% mission capability rate by September 2019 as directed by US Department of Defense.