All Department of the Air Force (USAF) articles – Page 15
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NewsUS Air Force Reserve receives first HC-130J Combat King II
The US Air Force Reserve has received its first Lockheed Martin HC-130J Combat King II.
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In depth
USAF gives Boeing $882m to help cash flow and fix KC-46 boom camera
As fallout from the coronavirus pandemic further pinches Boeing’s cash flow – financials already hurt by the grounding of the 737 Max – the US Air Force (USAF) has decided to release $882 million in payments withheld from the company in order to help fix a troublesome problem with the Boeing KC-46A refuelling camera boom.
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‘Low-cost is the technology’: Kratos buys jet turbine maker behind AFRL Gray Wolf cruise missile
Kratos Defense and Security Solutions purchased small jet turbine manufacturer Technical Directions for an undisclosed amount on 24 February.
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US Air Force looks at using small sounding rocket for hypersonic testing
The US Air Force is studying using a suborbital sounding rocket to test materials, sensors and flight controls at hypersonic speeds.
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Fuel is leaking from the Boeing KC-46A in-flight refuelling tanker
The problem, which was first discovered in July 2019, was recently upgraded to a category 1 deficiency.
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USAF Research Laboratory tests Gray Wolf low-cost turbojet for swarming cruise missiles
The laboratory aims to create a cheap and easily manufacturable jet engine which it can built in large numbers for swarms of low-cost cruise missiles. It claims the TDI-J85 is the first in “its class and price point to successfully operate at altitude”.
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US Air Force looks to rent T-X contest losers to prepare for Boeing T-7A
The US Air Force is looking to rent four to eight jet trainers to perfect its training regime and further refine capabilities needed on the winner of the T-X trainer contest, the Boeing T-7A Red Hawk.
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US Air Force C-17 moves 500,000 swabs from Italy to USA, and activates ‘24/7 Crisis Battle Staff’
As part of a growing effort to support the US government’s response to coronavirus, the US Air Force moved 500,000 swabs aboard a C-17 Globemaster III from an airbase in Italy to the USA.
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US Air Force adds two AT-6 light attack aircraft to continued experiment
The US Air Force (USAF) has purchased for $70.2 million two Textron Aviation Beechcraft AT-6 Wolverine aircraft for its continued light attack experiment.
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Boeing starts ‘Air Force One’ modifications of 747-8
Known by its “Air Force One” call sign when the US president flies aboard, the VC-25B are to operate as the USA’s top executive transports for the next 30 years. Modifications are being done at Boeing’s San Antonio, Texas facility.
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Elbit to install infrared missile warning systems on US National Guard and Reserve F-16s
Elbit Systems of America has won a $472 million fixed-price contract to provide pylon-based infrared missile warning systems for US Air National Guard and US Air Force Reserve Command F-16 fighters.
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US Air Force buys two A-29 light attack aircraft for continued experiment
Sierra Nevada Corporation was awarded a $129 million contract to supply two Sierra Nevada/Embraer A-29 light attack aircraft to the US Air Force.
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General Atomics shows off Defender UAV concept to protect refuelling tankers
Protecting tankers and ISR aircraft with UAVs could free manned fighters, such as Lockheed Martin F-35As, to launch strikes deep into enemy territory.
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In depth
5 technologies needed to make attritable UAVs work
Aircraft developers believe these five pieces of technology need to be improved to make attritable aircraft work.
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In depth
Why attritable UAVs have aerospace manufacturers rethinking lucrative MRO and upgrades
Because attritable aircraft are designed to be limited-use, and cheap enough to be lost in combat or thrown-away when obsolete, the traditional model of capturing long-term business government via vendor lock – selling proprietary aircraft to the US Department of Defense and then making profits on MRO and upgrades – could be disrupted.
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In depth
Why the US Air Force might use ‘deception’ and UAVs hidden in shipping containers to fight China
The US Air Force is rethinking the way it plans for war in the Pacific Ocean. It is eyeing a new class of unmanned air vehicle that could be hidden inside shipping containers and spread across small islands in the western Pacific. Should war ever come, the UAVs could be rocket launched within a matter of hours in massive volleys from dozens or even thousands of secret sites.
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Boeing resurrects effort to turn JDAM bomb into cheap cruise missile
Boeing has resurrected and is showing off its Powered JDAM concept believing that the US Air Force (USAF) is keen to buy low-cost cruise missiles.
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Why the US Air Force chose hypersonic ARRW over HCSW
The US Air Force’s decision to cancel the Hypersonic Conventional Strike Weapon (HCSW) and proceed with Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) came down to size and shape of the missile, in addition to budgetary pressures and a desire to move toward production faster.
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‘The fighter jet era has passed’: Elon Musk
Speaking in front of a crowd of fighter pilots for the US Air Force, technology entrepreneur Elon Musk pronounced the end to the manned fighter jet era.
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US Air Force names HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopter “Jolly Green II”
The service also awarded Sikorsky a $500 million Lot 2 Low Rate Initial Production contract for 12 more examples of the aircraft.
