All Department of the Air Force (USAF) articles – Page 6
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AnalysisWhat’s the strategic logic behind ‘surprise’ bomber flights?
US Air Force (USAF) bombers are touching down in new places. In February, for the first time in history, the Boeing B-1B Lancer bomber landed in India. Then, in March, the supersonic jet deployed for the first time from a Norwegian air base. Just this week the variable-sweep bomber landed in Poland for the first time ever.
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News
US Air Force accepts first Boeing F-15EX fighter
The choice to acquire the F-15EX is controversial as the fourth-generation fighter lacks the low radar cross-section of the service’s former favourite jet, the Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighter.
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News
US Air Force looks at air-to-air combat technologies for next-generation UAVs
The US Air Force is looking for air-to-air combat technologies for its family of next-generation unmanned air vehicles.
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News
DARPA kicks off feasibility study of military jetpacks
The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is studying the technical feasibility of military jetpacks, and other personal flying platforms, potentially for use by US special forces.
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AFRL to expand ‘Golden Horde’ networked weapons with ‘Colosseum’ simulation software
The US Air Force Research Laboratory is aiming to accelerate the pace at which it adds weapons to its Golden Horde network by using a simulation software called Colosseum.
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Second Avenger gets FAA Experimental Certificate as UAV plays growing payload-testing role
A second General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Avenger Extended Range (ER) unmanned air vehicle (UAV) has received an Experimental Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration.
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Hypersonic boost-glide ARRW missile scheduled to fly this week
The US Air Force’s plans to flight test its boost-glide AGM-183A Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon this week for the first time.
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News
Golden Horde collaborative bombs hit four targets simultaneously in test
The Air Force Research Laboratory’s (AFRL’s) Golden Horde collaborative munitions programme had its first successful demonstration last week.
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News
AFSOC open to UAVs for Armed Overwatch, but concerned about required manpower
The US Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) is open to considering unmanned air vehicles for its Armed Overwatch programme, but is concerned the unmanned aircraft would require too much manpower.
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USAF explains why fixed-price contract caused problems for Boeing KC-46A tanker
The US Air Force (USAF) believes that in hindsight the Boeing KC-46A Pegasus in-flight refuelling tanker, which has been plagued with delays, functionality problems and cost overruns, might have had less problems if it wasn’t on a fixed-price contract.
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News
USAF ponders Boeing E-3 Sentry replacement, some ask for Boeing E-7 Wedgetail
The US Air Force (USAF) is pondering replacing its Boeing E-3 Sentry airborne early warning and control aircraft and the commander of the Pacific Air Forces wants the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail.
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News
USAF to flight test Skyborg autonomous system at Orange Flag this summer
The US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) plans to flight test its Skyborg autonomous aircraft technology during Orange Flag exercises this summer for the first time.
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News
US Air Force Research Lab starts building airborne laser weapon
The US Air Force Research Laboratory is anticipating delivery later this month of the first major assembly of its Self-Protect High Energy Laser Demonstrator weapon.
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Lockheed Martin defends value of F-35 as USAF programme under new pressure
Lockheed Martin is defending the value of the F-35 stealth fighter as the US Air Force (USAF) is for the second time in two years considering buying a cheaper fourth-generation fighter aircraft for its fleet recapitalization plans.
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US Air Force begins retiring group of 17 B-1B bombers
In all, the service plans to retire 17 B-1B supersonic bombers to free maintenance funds and labour for the 45 examples of the aircraft that will remain in the fleet. The reduced fleet should also free up funds for buying the in-development Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider stealth bomber.
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News
Rolling updates planned for HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopter
After the original US Air Force requirements for the HH-60W Jolly Green II were overtaken by new threats within less than a decade – even before the first example of the rotorcraft was delivered – manufacturer Sikorsky is aiming to update the service’s Combat Rescue Helicopter on a rolling basis.
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In depth
USAF to consolidate multiple aircraft roles into Armed Overwatch
The US Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) aims to consolidate multiple aircraft roles into its Armed Overwatch aircraft programme in order to save money on the War on Terror.
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News
After more than $5bn in losses, can KC-46A become profitable?
The KC-46A programme is about $5.1 billion in the hole and there are questions about whether Boeing can make it profitable.
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News
US Air Force plans upgrade for brand-new Combat Rescue Helicopter worth up to $1bn
Less than a year after receiving its first pair of brand-new Sikorsky HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopters, the US Air Force (USAF) is planning to upgrade the type with new systems worth up to $981 million.
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News
Air Force Research Laboratory holds wargame to assess impact of laser weapons
The US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) held a virtual wargame recently at Kirtland AFB in New Mexico to assess the impact of laser weapons on future air-to-air battles.
