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Thursday, February 24, 2011

Russian-Indian missile BrahMos to be tested in the Baltic Sea


Russia and India will carry out test launches of jointly developed cruise missile BrahMos in mid-2011 in the Baltic Sea, reports ITAR-TASS citing Executive Director, BrahMos Aerospace Sivathanu Pillai at the defense show IDEX-2011 held in United Arab Emirates. Launches will be performed by the first of thee Project 11356 frigates built by Russian shipyard Yantar for Indian Navy. 


According to Pillai, the missile has been already prepared for tests; certain date of launches will be set when the first Project 11356 frigate finishes mooring trials. The $1.6 bln contract for three Project 11356 frigates was tied in 2007. Yantar shipyard launched the first ship – INS Teg – in Nov 2009, and the second one – INS Tarkash – in June 2010. Expectedly, those ships will be delivered to Indian Navy in 2011-2012. 


Full displacement of Project 11356 frigates is 4,000 tons; hull length is 124.8 meters; max speed is up to 30 knots; fuel range is 4,500 miles. Frigates will be armed with BrahMos missile 8-tube bow launcher. 

Constructively, antiship cruise missile BrahMos is based on P-800 Onyx missile which was designed in the USSR late 80's. BrahMos missile's length is about 10 meters; all-up weight is 3.9 tons; payload weight is 300 kg; max flight speed is 3,500 kph; flight range is 290 km. The missile has been designed by Russian-Indian joint venture BrahMos Aerospace.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Super-stealth sub powered by fuel cell


The U212A is an ultra-advanced non-nuclear sub developed for the German Navy.Powered by a revolutionary hydrogen fuel cell, it is almost totally silent.Without the need for combustible fuel, the sub can remain submerged for weeks at time.

CNN's global series i-List takes you to a different country each month. In February, we visit Germany and look at changes shaping the country's economy, culture and social fabric.
Eckernfoerde, Germany (CNN) -- It is almost totally silent, radiates virtually no heat and is constructed entirely from non-magnetic metals.

Monday, February 21, 2011

US military to boost naval fleet in Asia


A top US naval commander said Monday that Washington plans to boost its military presence in Asia, while warning that China should expand its own forces in a "responsible and constructive" way.
The United States has expressed concerns about Beijing's military build up, with the Pentagon saying this month that China was developing "counter-space" weapons that could shoot down satellites or jam signals.

Beijing has become increasingly assertive in its ambitions on the high seas in recent years with plans to roll out its first aircraft carrier as the centerpiece in the emerging power's growing naval fleet.
The former Soviet aircraft carrier called the Varyag is currently being refurbished in the port city of Dalian in northeast China.

Boeing EA-18G Growlers Deployed by US Navy


Boeing today announced that EA-18G Growler airborne electronic attack aircraft have been deployed for the first time by the U.S. Navy.
"The men and women of Boeing are honored to see this new capability directly benefit the nation’s brave service members around the world," said Kory Mathews, vice president of F/A-18 and EA-18 programs for Boeing. "The airborne electronic attack capability that the EA-18G brings to the fight is in high demand, so we are comitted to continuing to deliver these aircraft to the Navy on budget and on schedule , just as we have with every F/A-18E/F."

The EA-18G is the only air combat platform that delivers full-spectrum airborne electronic attack (AEA) capability along with the targeting and self-defense capabilities derived from the Navy's frontline fighter, the F/A-18E/F Block II Super Hornet.A derivative of the two-seat F/A-18F Block II, the EA-18G's highly flexible design enables warfighters to operate either from the deck of an aircraft carrier or from land-based airfields. It is replacing the Navy's current AEA platform, the EA-6B Prowler, which has been in service since 1971. The EA-18G joined the Navy's aircraft fleet in 2008, when it was introduced to fleet training squadron VAQ-129.
Boeing, acting as the weapon system integrator and prime contractor, leads the EA-18G Growler industry team, which also includes Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and General Electric Aircraft Engines.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Iran deploys two warships to Mediterranean

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman on Wednesday called the fact of two Iranian warships heading to the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal a "provocation."
In a speech before the leaders U.S. Jewish organization in Jerusalem, Lieberman said that the two Iranian warships would pass through the Suez Canal overnight and then head to Syria, a country with which Israel is formally at war.
Lieberman referred that the deployment of the warships was "a provocation that proves Iran's nerve and self-esteem is growing from day to day."
According to Israel National News.com, Iran announced it has planned that the warships would be deployed near Israel and dock at a Syrian port for one year.
Iranian news agencies in January announced the beginning of the country's year-long drills that would deploy warships from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Royal Navy’s ‘HMS Queen Elizabeth’ under construction


Pictured here is construction of the first of the two new aircraft carriers for the Royal Navy, HMS Queen Elizabeth, as workers at BAE Systems’ Govan yard moved two giant sections of the hull together for the first time.





The structure is so big that it fills an entire hall at Govan and now extends beyond the doors onto the yard.


It took a team of 20 employees and remote controlled transporters just one hour to move 1,221 tonnes of steel over 100 metres across the shipyard. The hull section was then manoeuvred carefully into position to line up with the rest of the block.
The two sections brought together today form the mid section of the hull up to the hangar deck and is referred to as Lower Block 03. Workers will continue to outfit the block, which on completion will weigh over 9,300 tonnes and stand over 23 metres tall, 63 metres long and 40 metres wide. She is set to embark to Rosyth in the latter part of this year, where HMS Queen Elizabeth will be assembled in the dry dock.

First frigate built for India to start trials in Feb-March

First of three frigates built for Indian Navy by Yantar shipyard (Kaliningrad) will be ready for trials in Feb-March 2011, said today Sivathanu Pillai, the executive director of Russian-Indian joint venture company BrahMos Aerospace


One ship has been fully equipped; the second one will be also completed in Feb-March, he said. 

According to Mr. Pillai, the shipyard conducts final works to prepare the frigate for trials. He also said that the new ships could launch BrahMos missiles both in the Baltic Sea and in the Indian Ocean when the first frigate arrives there from Russia. This issue is at the Russian Navy's option, said the executive director. 

SH-60B helicopter squadron receives flight trainer at homeport



NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md.-- Naval Aviation Training Systems program office (PMA-205) delivered a SH-60B Seahawk Tactical Operational Flight Trainer (TOFT) to Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH), in late 2010.


“With the new TOFT on location, the crews have more simulation time affording proficiency in mission readiness while staying close to home, thus eliminating cost associated with flying crews to the mainland. ” said Capt. John Feeney, Naval Aviation Training Systems program manager ,PMA-205 .
Previously, aircrews from Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light THIRTY-SEVEN (HSL-37) homeported at MCBH would travel to Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., for simulation training.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Russian Navy to receive corvette Soobrazitelny on its birthday

Corvette Soobrazitelny which is being currently constructed at Severnaya Verf shipyard will be delivered to Russian Navy in July 2011, on the Navy Day, reports Interfax


"Soobrazitelny is a second Project 20380 corvette and the first serial one. She was launched on March 31, 2011 and will start sea trials in Apr 2011. The ship is supposed to join the Navy on the Russian Navy Day, which is celebrated on the last July's Sunday (this year it will be July 31). 

The first Project 20380 ship Stereguschiy was commissioned into Baltic Fleet in 2008. Soobrazitelny has a number of substantial distinctions from Stereguschiy, primarily regarding arms systems. 
Displacement of Soobrazitelny is 2,000 tons; max speed is 27 knots. 

Another Project 20380 corvette - Boiky - will be launched on Apr 14, 2011. Totally, the Navy needs 30 such ships. Corvettes of this project are designed for antisubmarine and antisurface warfare, antiaircraft defense, and fire support of landing operations.

AirTest and Evaluation Squadron Three One (VX-31)

Dust Devil Mission:


      What We Do:
  • Testing and Evaluating current and future manned and unmanned aircraft, weapons, and weapons systems.
  • Operating the Airborne Test Bed program to provide cost-wise support to the Navy’s research community.
  • Conducting successful inland search and rescue operations throughout the high desert.
VX-31 Command Philosophy:


How We Do It:
  • Conduct ourselves with integrity and professionalism in all that we do.
  • Possess a relentless drive to be the most effective and efficient fliight test organization possible.
  • Prioritize our families.  Nothing done here is possible without their support.  They need yours, too!
  • Execute safe flight test.  Management of risk in a flight tests is critical.  
  • Communicate to your sponsors and to your chain of command in a timely manner.  We can not effect change if we keep secrets.
  • Be experts in our jobs.  Given the complexity and costs in performing our mission, it would be irresponsible not to be.

Downloads:


Sunday, February 13, 2011

Indian Navy planning to induct four Landing Platform Docks

In order to add more teeth to its amphibious warfare capabilities, the Indian Navy is planning to induct four Landing Platform Docks (LPD) to join the fleet alongside INS Jalashwa.


"We are looking to add four more LPDs in our fleet to operate alongside INS Jalashwa, the only LPD currently in service," Navy officials told the news agency.

The procurement procedure has already begun with the release of the Request for Information (RFI) by the Defence Ministry, they said.

The four warships would be procured under the Buy and make (Indian) category of the Defence procurement procedure under which the Indian shipyards, both private and public, would be required to form a partnership with foreign shipyards for the contract.
The navy wants the ships to be produced within the country itself and has sought response only from Indian shipyards, having their own infrastructure and capability of building LPD class of ships, they said.

Friday, February 11, 2011

VX-31 Super Hornet Ready for Centennial

Air Test and Evaluation Squadron THREE-ONE (VX-31) F/A-18 legacy Hornet awaits departure from the Naval Air Weapons Station, China Lake, Ca. to join the kick-off celebration of the Centennial of Naval Aviation (CONA) on Friday, Feb. 11 at Naval Air Station, North Island, Ca.

U. S. Navy photo by Mike McGinnis

VX-31 Dust Devils Celebrate Naval Aviation's Centennial With Retro-Painted F/A-18 Hornet

By Lt. Brian Culver, VX-31 Public Affairs Officer

Throughout 2011, the Centennial of Naval Aviation (CONA) will be celebrated across the nation. Last year, Vice Admiral T.J. Kilcline, former commander of Naval Air Forces (CNAF) put the Navy’s year-long celebration plan in context when he said, “By supporting this important milestone each organization's hard work will serve to honor tens of thousands of naval aviation personnel and their families spanning many generations." Rear Admiral Mat Winter, commander of the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD), challenged his military and civilian team members to honor the aircraft and the weapons that made them so successful in combat. Like many other Navy squadrons around the globe, Air Test and Evaluation Squadron THREE ONE (VX-31) painted one of its aircraft in a special commemorative paint scheme--one that pays homage to the rich heritage of NAWCWD China Lake, Ca., and the significant flight test contributions to our warfighting capability. “The entire China Lake workforce played a pivotal role in the history of naval aviation and we wanted to honor those achievements,” said Cmdr. Brady Bartosh, VX-31 Commanding Officer. “The aircraft known as COSO 101 was chosen because it accumulated over 4,000 flight hours. The F/A-18 is the Navy’s primary strike fighter aircraft, serving in combat operations over Iraq, Kosovo and Afghanistan.”

Naval Eurofighter: An Aircraft Carrier Version Under Development


The development of carrier aviation during the 20th century led to a dramatic paradigm shift in military capability. For the first time, navies had the ability to exert their influence far over the horizon – supporting land campaigns and allowing hostile fleets to be engaged from beyond the range of a battleship’s guns. From Pearl Harbor to more recent conflicts in the Falklands and the Middle East, the carrier and its aircraft provide commanders with an unrivaled ability to project military and political influence; several acres of sovereign territory which can be moved close to potential trouble spots at short notice.

Historically, carrier aircraft have been highly specialized and designed specifically for the role. In the majority of cases, there is little or no commonality between the aircraft operated by a nation’s air force, and the different aircraft performing the same role in the Navy. Design decisions taken in order to optimise an aircraft for carrier operations can lead to trade-offs elsewhere – such as additional weight and low-speed handling characteristics that compromise performance in other areas of the envelope.

Russian military justifies purchase of Mistral warships


Russia has decided to buy Mistral ships from France because it would have taken at least 10 years to develop a similar domestic model, Chief of the Russian General Staff Gen. Nikolai Makarov said Thursday.
"It could take at least 10 years to develop a ship similar to Mistral," Makarov said. "And meanwhile someone will create a better weapon [than Mistral]."
Makarov said Russia should buy the best of modern weaponry abroad to be built under license in Russia.
He also said that the Russian state armaments procurement program until 2020 would be adjusted and would total 23 trillion rubles ($785 billion), or 2 trillion rubles ($68 billion) more than originally planned.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Indian Navy issued a tender for amphibious aircrafts


Indian Navy issued a tender for nine amphibious aircrafts to be used in patrols between Andaman and Nicobar islands and Lakshadweep, reportsDefense Aerospace. New aircrafts will also participate in search-and-rescue operations and inter-island transportation. 


According to technical specifications, the aircrafts must have short take-off capability and operational range up to 800 miles (1,480 km). Probably, Canadian company Bombardier and Russian Beriev Design Bureau would receive invitation to the tender. 
In March 2010 the tender for six hydroplanes was declared by Indian Air Force. These aircrafts will be also used for air reconnaissance, search-and-rescue operations, and connection between islands and ships. Requirements for these aircrafts are the same as those of Indian Navy. This tender is also attended byBombardier and Beriev Design Bureau

As was previously reported by the Central Navy Portal, Indian Navy investigated the possibility to acquire 9 amphibious aircrafts for operations near Andaman, Nicobar, and Laccadive islands. Current India's rearmament program implies over $200 bln investment for the nearest 11-12 years. At present, India holds numerous international tenders for attack helicopters, fighters, submarines, and UAVs.


First two Mistrals to be based in Pacific Fleet

First two Mistral class helicopter carriers built by French shipyards for Russia will be handed over to Pacific Fleet (PF), reported Wednesday RIA Novosti referring to a source in Russian defense ministry. 


Russian president Dmitry Medvedev meeting with defense minister Anatoly Serdiukov and minister of regional development Viktor Basargin underlined the necessity to provide military units deployed in the Kurils with advanced arms in order to secure Russia's outposts. Defense ministry will analyze demands for new arms till the end of February, Serdiukov said. 

"After completion and commissioning of Mistral class ships, it is planned to station them at Pacific Fleet", said the source in defense ministry. 
Besides, significant funds will be invested in infrastructure of military camps located in Eastern Military District. 

Pirates hijack US-bound oil tanker off Oman

Suspected Somali pirates captured a US-bound tanker carrying around US$200 million worth of crude oil in the Indian Ocean in one of the biggest hijackings in the area so far.


The Irene SL, the length of three soccer pitches and with 25 crew members on board, was carrying about 2 million barrels of oil, or nearly one fifth of daily US crude imports.

The hijacking came a day after an Italian tanker carrying oil worth more than US$60 million was snatched by Somali pirates, reinforcing industry fears that the piracy scourge is "spinning out of control".

"This morning the vessel was attacked by armed men," the Irene SL's Greece-based manager Enesel said. "For the moment there is no communication with the vessel."

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Russia to create hypersonic cruise missiles for the Navy

Russia works on creation of hypersonic cruise missiles for the Navy, reports Interfax referring to Alexander Leonov, director general of defense-oriented corporation NPO Mashinostroyenia


"This is not a time for talking on how this project can be implemented. But I see no technical obstacles to realize these plans in the current decade", said Leonov having noted that development of such missiles was provided by State Arms Program 2011-2020. 


The director of NPO Mashinostroyenia did not detailed performance capabilities of developed missiles, but pointed out that the general trend is to "increase speed up to hypersound" and expand operating range. Besides, the new missiles will be multifunctional and capable to hit both land- and sea surface targets. In addition, "versatility of launch platforms is also of great importance, it is when the missile can be used with any delivery vehicle". 
According to Leonov, up to 80% of cruise missiles currently in service in Russian Navy were designed byNPO Mashinostroyenia. In particular, this company developed missiles for attack submarines; Project 1144Orlan nuclear-powered missile cruiser Petr Veliky is armed with antiship missiles Granit; Project 1164 Atlantcruisers Moskva and Varyag have BazaltPublish Post
 missiles in their arsenals.

US Navy X-47B Unmanned Combat Aircraft Completes Historic First Flight

The Northrop Grumman -built U.S. Navy X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration (UCAS-D) aircraft has successfully completed its historic first flight at Edwards Air Force Base (AFB), Calif.

Conducted by a U.S. Navy/Northrop Grumman test team, the flight took off at 2:09 p.m. PST and lasted 29 minutes. This event marks a critical step in the program, moving the team forward to meet the demonstration objectives of a tailless fighter-sized unmanned aircraft to safely take off from and land on the
"First flight represents the compilation of numerous tests to validate the airworthiness of the aircraft, and the robustness and reliability of the software that allows it to operate as an autonomous system and eventually have the ability to take-off and land aboard an aircraft carrier," said Capt. Jaime Engdahl, the Navy's UCAS-D program manager.
Northrop Grumman is the Navy's UCAS-D prime contractor and leader of the UCAS-D industry team.

Iran mass producing new anti-ship missiles


Iran is mass producing a new ballistic missile which can travel at more than three times the speed of sound and hit targets on the high seas, top commanders said on Monday.
Commander Mohammad Ali Jafari, who heads the elite military force, the Revolutionary Guards, said the missile -- named "Persian Gulf" -- had a range of 300 kilometres (185 miles).
"Iran is mass producing a smart ballistic missile for sea targets with a speed three times more than the speed of sound," state news agency IRNA quoted Jafari as saying about the new missile.
He said the missile was "undetectable and can't be neutralised by enemies," without specifying thename. "It has very high precision in destroying targets," Jafari added.

Indian Navy successfully combats pirates


India’s coast guard and navy has captured 28 suspected Somali pirates and rescued 24 Thai fisherman from a fishing trawler that was used as a pirate mothership off the coast of India. It is the country’s second piracy success in under two weeks.


On Saturday February 5, the Greek-flagged merchant ship Chios was attacked by pirates about 100 miles off the Indian coast, but the attack was unsuccessful. A coast guard vessel, the ICGS Smar, and INS Tir, an Indian Navy training ship, were deployed to search for the pirates. The next day Smar came across the Thai fishing Trawler, Prantalay 11, which had been hijacked in April last year. After shadowing the trawler and failing to establish communications with it, the ICGS fired several warning shots, forcing the vessel to stop.

“The crew of the pirate vessel surrendered by hoisting a white flag and mustered on the forward portion of the ship,” the coastguard said. “All personnel onboard the pirates' vessel were thereafter directed to jump into the water for recovery.” 
Samar and Tir picked up a total of 28 suspected pirates and 24 fishermen. The pirates had been using the Thai ship as mother ship and used for launching raids on the open ocean.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Royal Navy Merlins Fly to the Anti-submarine Exercise


A Royal Navy helicopter squadron is taking part in NATO's largest Mediterranean anti-submarine exercise, Proud Manta, for the first time.
Merlin Mk1 maritime patrol helicopters from 814 Naval Air Squadron (also known as 'The Flying Tigers') have flown 1,400 miles (2,250km) across Europe from Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose in Helston, Cornwall, to Sicily in order to take part in the exercise and practise hunting submarines.
Run by NATO, Exercise Proud Manta (formally Noble Manta) sees ships, aircraftand submarines from the USA, Canada, Spain, France, Germany, Greece and Turkey, plus hosts Italy, converging on the central Mediterranean for a week.

Navy Delivers Two Patrol Boats to Iraq


The U.S.Navy delivered two 35-meter patrol boats to the Iraqi navy's Umm Qasr naval facility Jan. 26.
The vessels are the second and third such craft to be delivered to the Iraqi Navy as part of planned 15-ship foreign military sales case managed by the Support Ships, Boats and Craft Program Office in the U.S. Navy's Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships. Procurement of these ships represents a continued cooperation commitment between the United States and Iraqi governments.


"We are excited to deliver the second and third patrol boats of this class to the Iraqi navy," said Program Manager Frank McCarthey. "This addition to their fleet will help reinforce Iraq's maritime strength in the littorals."
Using a design chosen by the Iraqi government, the 35-meter patrol boats are heavily-armed, fast-attack craft designed to support a crew of 25 for six days; and can reach speeds of 30 knots. The ships will be used to enforce the nation's maritime sovereignty and protect off-shore oil platforms.


Nine of the 25-meter, armored patrol boats are currently under construction, and negotiations are underway for three additional vessels.
PEO Ships, an affiliated PEO of the Naval Sea Systems Command, manages the design and construction of all U.S. Navy surface ships as well as a wide range of small boats and craft for U.S. agencies and allied nations. Since its creation in November 2002, PEO Ships has delivered 38 major warships and hundreds of small boats and craft from more than 20 shipyards and boat builders across the United States.

Gulf War 20th: Naval Lessons of the Gulf War

For the Navy, the Gulf War was an introduction to the post-Cold War world. It was the first major joint air operation since Vietnam, and it involved extensive tactical ground attack for the first time since Vietnam. It was also the debut of the non-nuclear version of the Tomahawk land attack missile. The Gulf War also included littoral operations, such as mine countermeasures and an attack against small Iraqi missile attack boats, which are likely to feature in future Third World conflicts. Each of these experiences generated important lessons and changes in hardware and tactics.
Prior to the outbreak of war, but continuing during and after it, was an embargo directed against Iraqi sea traffic. Iraqi shipping could approach the Gulf anywhere over a very wide arc, and even with coalition partners few frigates and destroyers were available to enforce it.

Nuclear or not, we'll need prefab subs


PERHAPS it was Kevin Rudd's most impossible dream - a submarine fleet to face down China. But while the idea of building 12 of our own big boats is still government policy, experts argue the task is beyond us.
One solution canvassed this week is to go nuclear. The question is whether this would exchange one set of problems for another.
The centrepiece of the 2009 defence white paper was a fleet of 12 new submarines, capable of patrolling off north Asia and equipped with cruise missiles to be used to support US forces in any war with China. They would be conventional submarines and they would be built in South Australia.
The first of these submarines would need to be operational in the early 2020s, to begin replacing the navy's six Collins-class boats.

Momsen and Bunker Hill disrupt pirate attack

The Ticonderoga class AEGIS guided missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG-52) and the Arleigh Burke-class AEGIS destroyer USS Momsen (DDG-92) have disrupted a pirate attack on the Panamanian flagged merchant vessel Duqm in the Gulf of Oman.


While transiting in international waters last week Tuesday, the merchant vessel reported that pirates were attempting to board the vessel. Momsen and Bunker Hill, which were in the vicinity, responded to the Duqm's distress signal and caused two pirates skiffs alongside the vessel with ladders against its hull to flee the area.

The US Navy says in a media release that the Momsen and Bunker Hill tracked the skiffs movement and located the mothership that facilitated the attempted boarding of Duqm, towing the two empty skiffs. Consistent with the UN Security Council Resolutions on piracy and US rules of engagement, Momsen destroyed the two skiffs to prevent their use for future attacks.

Momsen and Bunker Hill are deployed supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the US 5th fleet area of operations, the statement concluded.

Monday, February 7, 2011

X-47B UCAS Demonstrator Makes First Flight

US Navy/Northrop Grumman team move closer to carrier trials


 The US Navy is one large step closer to introducing its first carrier-based unmanned combat aircraft. On Friday, 4 February, the Northrop Grumman-built X-47B successfully completed its first flight at Edwards Air Force Base, California. The X-47B is an unmanned combat air system (UCAS) technology demonstrator designed as a stealthy long-range reconnaissance and strike aircraft. 


According to Northrop Grumman, the tailless, delta-shaped aircraft took off at 2:09 pm PST and performed a 29-minute maiden flight above Rogers Dry Lake. This flight was an important milestone to prove the aircraft’s basic aeronautical capabilities and performance. Friday’s successful test flight allows the team to move ahead in the process of demonstrating its technological abilities to develop an operational fighter-sized unmanned aircraft that can safely operate from a US Navy aircraft carrier. 

Saturday, February 5, 2011

UCAS-D completes successful first flight

Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. -- An X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstrator completed its first flight here today, an essential step in the Navy’s ground-breaking effort to design, develop and integrate an autonomous unmanned air system on an aircraft carrier.

                                The X-47-B takes to the skies at Edwards AFB on the first flight.


“Today we got a glimpse towards the future as the Navy’s first-ever tailless, jet-powered unmanned aircraft took to the skies,” remarked Capt. Jaime Engdahl, Program Manager for the Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration, after observing the X-47B maiden flight at EAFB today. 

E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Completes First Carrier Landing Aboard USS Truman


The Northrop Grumman-built E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, the U.S. Navy's newest airborne early warning and command and control aircraft, has landed on the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) and begun carrier suitability testing.


With 99 percent of radar testing complete, the purpose of this phase of testing is to assess the aircraft's effectiveness in an operational environment. While onboard the Truman, all aspects of aviation/ship integration will be addressed, including logistics, manpower and interoperability, as well as catapult and arrested landing structural tests.
"This first landing of an E-2D Advanced Hawkeye on a carrier deck is a very proud moment for the entire Hawkeye team," said Jim Culmo, vice president, Airborne Early Warning and Battle Management Command and Control Programs, Northrop Grumman.
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