All Department of the Air Force (USAF) articles – Page 9
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NewsUS Air Force signs research contract for ‘Bell’s High Speed VTOL’
The US Air Force Research Laboratory has contracted Bell to research a high-speed vertical take-off and landing aircraft.
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News
Boeing VC-25B takes $318m loss due to Covid restrictions and supplier dispute
Boeing’s V-25B was snagged by coronavirus restrictions and a dispute with a supplier in the first quarter of 2021, causing the company to report a $318 million loss on the Presidential Aircraft Replacement programme.
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News
All USAF B-1B bombers grounded for fuel pump issue, as fleet shows its age
The US Air Force grounded all of its Boeing B-1B Lancer bombers on 20 April after a fuel pump issue was discovered.
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News
US Air Force rewrites basic doctrine, emphasising ‘commander’s intent’
As the US Air Force (USAF) potentially faces more complex and fast-paced battles in the future, where communications are likely to be disrupted, for example by jamming, it is rewriting its basic doctrine to emphasise “commander’s intent”.
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News
US Air Force starts MQ-9 Reaper upgrades to keep UAV relevant against sophisticated foes
The US Air Force (USAF) has started upgrades to part of its General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9 Reaper fleet to keep the unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) effective against near-peer adversaries, such as China and Russia.
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News
US Air Force HH-60W combat rescue helicopter finishes developmental tests
The US Air Force’s Sikorsky HH-60W Jolly Green II combat rescue helicopter finished its developmental test programme on 13 April.
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News
Boeing delivers only two KC-46A tankers in Q1 2021
Despite orders for dozens more KC-46A Pegasus in-flight refuelling tankers in recent months, Boeing only delivered two examples of the aircraft in the first quarter of 2021.
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News
How do you design and build throw-away aircraft?
The US Air Force wants UAVs that it can afford to lose – but that presents industry with numerous challenges to overcome.
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News
Former SpaceX engineers propose two-stage eVTOL for regional, military use
Two former SpaceX engineers are proposing a two-stage electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for regional cargo and passenger flight, as well as for US military missions.
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Analysis
What’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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News
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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News
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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News
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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News
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.
