Mil News USA, Canada & Caribbean Nations Military News & Discussion Thread
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Commercial Boeing 737 Slides Off Runway at NAS Jacksonville
NAVAL AIR STATION JACKSONVILLE (Released) – A Boeing 737 aircraft carrying 143 passengers from Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, slid off the runway at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida into the St. Johns River May 3.
Navy and local emergency services personnel responded. U.S. Navy photos by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Monica R. Hopper
Release Date: 5/4/2019 9:29:00 AM
From NAS Jacksonville Public Affairs
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (NNS) -- UPDATED May 4 at 1500 EST: The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is on the scene and has taken lead on the aircraft mishap involving a Miami Air International Boeing 737-800 which overran the runway at NAS Jacksonville, and came to rest in the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, Fla., Friday, May 3.
NTSB officials have also recovered the flight data recorder. Passengers are reuniting with family members, including those who are traveling to ultimate destinations.
At approximately 9:40 p.m. May 3rd, a Boeing 737 arriving from Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba into Naval Air Station Jacksonville slid off the runway into the St. Johns River.
There were 136 passengers and seven aircrew on board and all have been accounted for. Minor injuries have been reported, treated at the scene, and those requiring additional treatment were transported to a local hospital. There were no fatalities.
Navy security and emergency response personnel are on the scene and monitoring the situation.
Families members who were expecting the arrival of passengers should stand by until they are released.
An investigation into the mishap is underway.
Get more information about the Navy from US Navy facebook or twitter.
NAVAL AIR STATION JACKSONVILLE (Released) – A Boeing 737 aircraft carrying 143 passengers from Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, slid off the runway at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida into the St. Johns River May 3.
Navy and local emergency services personnel responded. U.S. Navy photos by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Monica R. Hopper
Release Date: 5/4/2019 9:29:00 AM
From NAS Jacksonville Public Affairs
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (NNS) -- UPDATED May 4 at 1500 EST: The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is on the scene and has taken lead on the aircraft mishap involving a Miami Air International Boeing 737-800 which overran the runway at NAS Jacksonville, and came to rest in the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, Fla., Friday, May 3.
NTSB officials have also recovered the flight data recorder. Passengers are reuniting with family members, including those who are traveling to ultimate destinations.
At approximately 9:40 p.m. May 3rd, a Boeing 737 arriving from Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba into Naval Air Station Jacksonville slid off the runway into the St. Johns River.
There were 136 passengers and seven aircrew on board and all have been accounted for. Minor injuries have been reported, treated at the scene, and those requiring additional treatment were transported to a local hospital. There were no fatalities.
Navy security and emergency response personnel are on the scene and monitoring the situation.
Families members who were expecting the arrival of passengers should stand by until they are released.
An investigation into the mishap is underway.
Get more information about the Navy from US Navy facebook or twitter.
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Will be interesting to see who the winner of the FFGx competition will be. Huntington Ingalls has been very quiet over the past year or so.
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USA:
BAE Systems worked closely with Lockheed Martin to deliver Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles (LRASM) to the U.S. Air Force, achieving Early Operational Capability (EOC) for the B1-B bomber ahead of schedule. The Air Force accepted delivery of production LRASM units following successful simulation, integration, and flight tests that demonstrated the missile’s mission readiness.
“We’re quickly delivering critical capabilities to warfighters to meet their urgent operational needs,” said Bruce Konigsberg, Radio Frequency (RF) Sensors product area director at BAE Systems. “Our sensor systems provide U.S. warfighters with a strike capability that lets them engage protected, high-value maritime targets from safe distances. The missile provides a critical advantage to U.S. warfighters.”
BAE Systems’ long-range sensor and targeting technology enables LRASM to detect and engage protected ships in all weather conditions, day or night, without relying on external intelligence and navigation data.
BAE Systems and Lockheed Martin are working closely together to further mature the LRASM technology. The companies recently signed a contract for the production of more than 50 additional sensors and are working to achieve EOC on the U.S. Navy's F/A-18E/F Super Hornet in 2019.
The advanced LRASM sensor technology builds on BAE Systems’ expertise in electronic warfare (EW), signal processing, and targeting technologies, and demonstrates the company’s ability to apply its world-class EW technology to small platforms. The successful LRASM sensor program demonstrates the company’s ability to quickly deliver advanced EW technology to warfighters.
As part of the company’s electronic warfare capacity expansion initiatives, it locates key programs where they will be optimally staffed to quickly transition from design to production, accelerate deliveries, and improve product affordability. The company’s work on the LRASM program is conducted at state-of-the-art facilities in Wayne, New Jersey and Nashua, New Hampshire, where it benefits from highly skilled EW engineering and manufacturing workforces.
https://www.baesystems.com/en/article/sensor-technology-guides-next-generation-missile-to-readiness
BAE Systems worked closely with Lockheed Martin to deliver Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles (LRASM) to the U.S. Air Force, achieving Early Operational Capability (EOC) for the B1-B bomber ahead of schedule. The Air Force accepted delivery of production LRASM units following successful simulation, integration, and flight tests that demonstrated the missile’s mission readiness.
“We’re quickly delivering critical capabilities to warfighters to meet their urgent operational needs,” said Bruce Konigsberg, Radio Frequency (RF) Sensors product area director at BAE Systems. “Our sensor systems provide U.S. warfighters with a strike capability that lets them engage protected, high-value maritime targets from safe distances. The missile provides a critical advantage to U.S. warfighters.”
BAE Systems’ long-range sensor and targeting technology enables LRASM to detect and engage protected ships in all weather conditions, day or night, without relying on external intelligence and navigation data.
BAE Systems and Lockheed Martin are working closely together to further mature the LRASM technology. The companies recently signed a contract for the production of more than 50 additional sensors and are working to achieve EOC on the U.S. Navy's F/A-18E/F Super Hornet in 2019.
The advanced LRASM sensor technology builds on BAE Systems’ expertise in electronic warfare (EW), signal processing, and targeting technologies, and demonstrates the company’s ability to apply its world-class EW technology to small platforms. The successful LRASM sensor program demonstrates the company’s ability to quickly deliver advanced EW technology to warfighters.
As part of the company’s electronic warfare capacity expansion initiatives, it locates key programs where they will be optimally staffed to quickly transition from design to production, accelerate deliveries, and improve product affordability. The company’s work on the LRASM program is conducted at state-of-the-art facilities in Wayne, New Jersey and Nashua, New Hampshire, where it benefits from highly skilled EW engineering and manufacturing workforces.
https://www.baesystems.com/en/article/sensor-technology-guides-next-generation-missile-to-readiness
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USN:
The USN’s next-generation fighter won’t be jointly developed with the USAF. That’s because the USN does not plan to use its Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) aircraft on penetration missions in highly-contested air space as the USAF aims to do with its next-generation fighter, says Angie Knappenberger, USN deputy director of air warfare, at the Navy League Sea-Air-Space conference in National Harbor, Maryland.
“A penetrating fighter, the Navy doesn’t have to do that. So some of that inherent design of the aircraft it does drive costs and if you don’t need that for our mission area then you don’t necessarily want to pay for it,” she says, noting the shape of a highly stealthy penetrating fighter, presumably without a vertical stabliser, would be more expensive to develop. Instead, the USN would conduct penetrating airstrikes against an advanced adversary with long-range standoff missiles or the mission would be deferred to the USAF, says Knappenberger.
That’s not to say that the two services’ next-generation fighters won’t share systems, such as electronic warfare, radar, networking and weapons systems.
“Where we really get some dividends is all of the complimentary systems that we are going to have,” says Knappenberger, adding that borrowed weapons could be especially beneficial. “Anytime we partner with the Air Force and get a bigger stick that’s a big thing.”
Northrop Grumman NGAD concept
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/a...fighter-will-not-be-joint-effort-with-457968/
The USN’s next-generation fighter won’t be jointly developed with the USAF. That’s because the USN does not plan to use its Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) aircraft on penetration missions in highly-contested air space as the USAF aims to do with its next-generation fighter, says Angie Knappenberger, USN deputy director of air warfare, at the Navy League Sea-Air-Space conference in National Harbor, Maryland.
“A penetrating fighter, the Navy doesn’t have to do that. So some of that inherent design of the aircraft it does drive costs and if you don’t need that for our mission area then you don’t necessarily want to pay for it,” she says, noting the shape of a highly stealthy penetrating fighter, presumably without a vertical stabliser, would be more expensive to develop. Instead, the USN would conduct penetrating airstrikes against an advanced adversary with long-range standoff missiles or the mission would be deferred to the USAF, says Knappenberger.
That’s not to say that the two services’ next-generation fighters won’t share systems, such as electronic warfare, radar, networking and weapons systems.
“Where we really get some dividends is all of the complimentary systems that we are going to have,” says Knappenberger, adding that borrowed weapons could be especially beneficial. “Anytime we partner with the Air Force and get a bigger stick that’s a big thing.”
Northrop Grumman NGAD concept
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/a...fighter-will-not-be-joint-effort-with-457968/
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USS Abraham Lincoln passes through Suez Canal
BRUSSELS (AP) — The Latest on the crisis surrounding Iran's decision to step away from the embattled nuclear deal with world powers (all times local):
2:20 p.m.
The head of Egypt's port authority says the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln has passed through the Suez Canal on its way to the Persian Gulf amid an escalation with Iran.
The state MENA news agency quoted Mohab Mameesh, the Suez Canal authority chief, as saying he observed the passage of the carrier through the canal on Thursday morning.
MENA says the director also met the U.S. defense attache in Cairo, Gen. Ralph Groover, who had travelled to the Suez Canal area to check on the status of the U.S. warship.
The White House on Sunday dispatched the aircraft carrier and B-52 bombers to the Persian Gulf. On Wednesday, Rouhani threatened Iran could start to enrich its uranium stockpile closer to weapons-grade levels in two months.
BRUSSELS (AP) — The Latest on the crisis surrounding Iran's decision to step away from the embattled nuclear deal with world powers (all times local):
2:20 p.m.
The head of Egypt's port authority says the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln has passed through the Suez Canal on its way to the Persian Gulf amid an escalation with Iran.
The state MENA news agency quoted Mohab Mameesh, the Suez Canal authority chief, as saying he observed the passage of the carrier through the canal on Thursday morning.
MENA says the director also met the U.S. defense attache in Cairo, Gen. Ralph Groover, who had travelled to the Suez Canal area to check on the status of the U.S. warship.
The White House on Sunday dispatched the aircraft carrier and B-52 bombers to the Persian Gulf. On Wednesday, Rouhani threatened Iran could start to enrich its uranium stockpile closer to weapons-grade levels in two months.
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USS John C. Stennis expected to arrives in Norfolk May 16th 2019
NORFOLK, Va. — Nearly 4,500 Sailors from Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 3 will arrive in Norfolk, May 16.
The aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74), commanded by Capt. Randy Peck, is pulling into Naval Station (NS) Norfolk following its deployment.
Commanded by Rear Adm. Mike Wettlaufer, CSG-3 is comprised of flagship John C. Stennis with embarked squadrons of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9, CSG-3 staff, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 21 staff, USS Stockdale (DDG-106), USS Spruance (DDG-111), USS Chung-Hoon (DDG-93), and USS Mobile Bay (CG-53).
John C. Stennis is the only ship arriving in Norfolk along with some of the air wing assets. CSG-3 staff, CVW-9 squadrons and DESRON 21 staff will return back to the west coast from Norfolk. Stockdale, Spruance and Chung-Hoon detached from the strike group mid-April to return to their respective home ports in San Diego and Hawaii. Mobile Bay will continue their transit home to San Diego by transiting through the 4th Fleet area of operations.
The squadrons of west coast-based CVW-9 embarked as part of CSG-3 include: Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 41, Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 14, Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 97, Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 151, Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 133, Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 117, Fleet Logistics Combat Support Squadron (VRC) 30, Detachment 4, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 14, and Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 71.
The John C. Stennis will pull into Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, and prepare to conduct a mid-life Refueling Complex Overhaul at Newport News Shipbuilding, Huntington Ingalls Industries.
NORFOLK, Va. — Nearly 4,500 Sailors from Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 3 will arrive in Norfolk, May 16.
The aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74), commanded by Capt. Randy Peck, is pulling into Naval Station (NS) Norfolk following its deployment.
Commanded by Rear Adm. Mike Wettlaufer, CSG-3 is comprised of flagship John C. Stennis with embarked squadrons of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9, CSG-3 staff, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 21 staff, USS Stockdale (DDG-106), USS Spruance (DDG-111), USS Chung-Hoon (DDG-93), and USS Mobile Bay (CG-53).
John C. Stennis is the only ship arriving in Norfolk along with some of the air wing assets. CSG-3 staff, CVW-9 squadrons and DESRON 21 staff will return back to the west coast from Norfolk. Stockdale, Spruance and Chung-Hoon detached from the strike group mid-April to return to their respective home ports in San Diego and Hawaii. Mobile Bay will continue their transit home to San Diego by transiting through the 4th Fleet area of operations.
The squadrons of west coast-based CVW-9 embarked as part of CSG-3 include: Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 41, Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 14, Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 97, Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 151, Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 133, Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 117, Fleet Logistics Combat Support Squadron (VRC) 30, Detachment 4, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 14, and Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 71.
The John C. Stennis will pull into Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, and prepare to conduct a mid-life Refueling Complex Overhaul at Newport News Shipbuilding, Huntington Ingalls Industries.
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Another BUFF out of retirement
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, LA, UNITED STATES 05.14.2019 - A B-52 Stratofortress, nicknamed "Wise Guy," taxis into Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, May 14, 2019. The jet had been sitting at the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona since 2008. It is being returned to service to replace a B-52 lost during takeoff in 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Ted Daigle)
www.strategypage.com
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, LA, UNITED STATES 05.14.2019 - A B-52 Stratofortress, nicknamed "Wise Guy," taxis into Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, May 14, 2019. The jet had been sitting at the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona since 2008. It is being returned to service to replace a B-52 lost during takeoff in 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Ted Daigle)
BUFF Returns From Boneyard
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, LA, UNITED STATES 05.14.2019 - A B-52 Stratofortress, nicknamed "Wise Guy," taxis into Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, May 14, 2019. The jet had been sitting at the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona since 2008. It is...
www.strategypage.com
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US Navy
Study Says Navy Logistics Fleet Would Fall Short in High-End Fight
The Navy is struggling to find support to buy new logistics ships, even as a new study finds the Navy’s current plans to recapitalize that logistics fleet are insufficient to support distributed operations in a high-end fight against China or Russia.
A new study by the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments finds that the Navy needs to spend $47.8 billion over the next 30 years beyond what it has currently laid into its plans in order to build a logistics fleet that could refuel and resupply the Navy and Marine Corps in a fight. The study notes that, while the Navy’s current plans could support the fleet into the future in a peacetime environment, the Navy may need nearly 100 additional logistics ships of various types if it wants to win a fight against China in particular.
news.usni.org
I always say if a war come the first assets to be attacked will not be the carriers but the supply ships, all the T-Axx (tanker, ammo, RORO, even the 2 hospitals one)
Study Says Navy Logistics Fleet Would Fall Short in High-End Fight
The Navy is struggling to find support to buy new logistics ships, even as a new study finds the Navy’s current plans to recapitalize that logistics fleet are insufficient to support distributed operations in a high-end fight against China or Russia.
A new study by the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments finds that the Navy needs to spend $47.8 billion over the next 30 years beyond what it has currently laid into its plans in order to build a logistics fleet that could refuel and resupply the Navy and Marine Corps in a fight. The study notes that, while the Navy’s current plans could support the fleet into the future in a peacetime environment, the Navy may need nearly 100 additional logistics ships of various types if it wants to win a fight against China in particular.
Study Says Navy Logistics Fleet Would Fall Short in High-End Fight - USNI News
The Navy is struggling to find money to buy new logistics ships, which it may need significantly more of in a high-end conflict against China or Russia.
news.usni.org
I always say if a war come the first assets to be attacked will not be the carriers but the supply ships, all the T-Axx (tanker, ammo, RORO, even the 2 hospitals one)
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USAF Upgrade, Service Life Programs Point To New Roles For B-1Bs
aviationweek.com
As the B-1B has evolved, the Air Force faces some decisions as to its direction. Since 2015, the B-1B fleet has been assigned to Global Strike Command, which otherwise manages only nuclear forces. The Air Force has complained about the offensive capacity shortfall caused by the slow replacement of the fighter fleet, so some experts, led by the Air Force Association’s Mitchell Institute, are calling on the service to use its B-1B’s more like long-range, tactical munitions “trucks” than conventional bombers.
“The B-1 is effectively a big F-15E for a good portion of the roles,” says Doug Birkey, executive director of the Mitchell Institute. “It makes no sense to us [to] retire B-1s when, with some minor SLEP work, you can keep [them around for] a few more years.”
USAF Upgrade, Service Life Programs Point To New Roles For B-1Bs
The B-1B’s mission is still evolving within 20 years of the fleet’s scheduled retirement.
As the B-1B has evolved, the Air Force faces some decisions as to its direction. Since 2015, the B-1B fleet has been assigned to Global Strike Command, which otherwise manages only nuclear forces. The Air Force has complained about the offensive capacity shortfall caused by the slow replacement of the fighter fleet, so some experts, led by the Air Force Association’s Mitchell Institute, are calling on the service to use its B-1B’s more like long-range, tactical munitions “trucks” than conventional bombers.
“The B-1 is effectively a big F-15E for a good portion of the roles,” says Doug Birkey, executive director of the Mitchell Institute. “It makes no sense to us [to] retire B-1s when, with some minor SLEP work, you can keep [them around for] a few more years.”
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U.S. Special Operators Will Soon Be Using This 6.5mm "Assault" Machine Gun
www.thedrive.com
The 6.5mm Creedmoor cartridge also actually offers better range than the larger 7.62x51mm. As a result, SOCOM is separately in the process of developing a designated marksman rifle using this round, which will give operators improved capabilities over existing weapons of that type without having to employ a true sniper rifle.
U.S. Special Operators Will Soon Be Using This 6.5mm "Assault" Machine Gun
The gun offers better range and accuracy over smaller belt-fed squad automatic weapons.
www.thedrive.com
The 6.5mm Creedmoor cartridge also actually offers better range than the larger 7.62x51mm. As a result, SOCOM is separately in the process of developing a designated marksman rifle using this round, which will give operators improved capabilities over existing weapons of that type without having to employ a true sniper rifle.
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It's Official: The U.S. Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship Is a Complete Failure
Here come the frigates.
nationalinterest.org
The U.S. Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship was supposed to be cheap, fast, flexible and easy to build.
But after spending $30 billion over a period of around two decades, the U.S. Navy has managed to acquire just 35 of the 3,000-ton-displacement vessels.
Sixteen were in service as of late 2018. Of those 16, four are test ships. Six are training ships. In 2019 just six LCSs, in theory, are deployable.
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Yup it’s a clusterfark with a disastrous program management. I hope the taxpayers end up getting SOME value from these ships one day. Perhaps the Indy version will be a successful MCM platform. Let's just hope FFGx isn't based on one of these LCSs, they've already sucked up enough money, without much to show for it.It's Official: The U.S. Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship Is a Complete Failure
Here come the frigates.
The U.S. Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship was supposed to be cheap, fast, flexible and easy to build.
But after spending $30 billion over a period of around two decades, the U.S. Navy has managed to acquire just 35 of the 3,000-ton-displacement vessels.
Sixteen were in service as of late 2018. Of those 16, four are test ships. Six are training ships. In 2019 just six LCSs, in theory, are deployable.
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Some good news.
news.usni.org
Lockheed Drops Freedom-class Out of FFG(X) Contest - USNI News
Lockheed Martin won’t submit a bid to compete in the design of the Navy’s next-generation guided-missile (FFG(X)) frigate competition, company officials told USNI News on Tuesday. The company elected to focus on its involvement developing the frigate combat system and other systems rather than...
news.usni.org
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The US Army is to retrofit its Boeing AH-64D/E Apache attack helicopters with an underwater escape system for the crew as part of a wider rollout of the aircraft's maritime capabilities.
The service disclosed on 31 May that it is to issue Boeing with a sole-source contract to fit its AH-64D Apache Longbow and AH-64E Apache Guardian helicopters with a new canopy severance device that is known as the Underwater Emergency Egress System (UEES).
The Apache has an explosive canopy fitted as standard to aid a crew escape should the aircraft be forced down over water, although this can only be fired before the aircraft submerges. As noted in the notification, the UEES replaces the current detonation system in door and window locations for the pilot and weapons operator in its entirety.
This upgrade is necessary as, when fitted with the top-heavy mast-mounted fire-control radar, the Apache has a tendency to roll and become inverted quickly. Although an Apache flotation system has been developed and tested by the UK, the upgrade adds weight to the aircraft that could otherwise be given to fuel and ordnance.
While the Army Contracting Command Redstone Arsenal (ACC-RSA) did not disclose a timeline or contract value, it did note that the initial effort will cover five test UEES kits.
The UEES modification is part of a growing requirement by the US Army to operate its Apaches in the littoral environment, using US Navy (USN) and US Marine Corps (USMC) ships as launch pads. While the Apache is not a bespoke naval platform in the same way as the Bell AH-1Z Viper fielded by the USMC, the army has already rolled out some modifications for the helicopter and its crews to aid with over-water operations.
https://www.janes.com/article/88989...ache-helos-with-underwater-crew-escape-system
The service disclosed on 31 May that it is to issue Boeing with a sole-source contract to fit its AH-64D Apache Longbow and AH-64E Apache Guardian helicopters with a new canopy severance device that is known as the Underwater Emergency Egress System (UEES).
The Apache has an explosive canopy fitted as standard to aid a crew escape should the aircraft be forced down over water, although this can only be fired before the aircraft submerges. As noted in the notification, the UEES replaces the current detonation system in door and window locations for the pilot and weapons operator in its entirety.
This upgrade is necessary as, when fitted with the top-heavy mast-mounted fire-control radar, the Apache has a tendency to roll and become inverted quickly. Although an Apache flotation system has been developed and tested by the UK, the upgrade adds weight to the aircraft that could otherwise be given to fuel and ordnance.
While the Army Contracting Command Redstone Arsenal (ACC-RSA) did not disclose a timeline or contract value, it did note that the initial effort will cover five test UEES kits.
The UEES modification is part of a growing requirement by the US Army to operate its Apaches in the littoral environment, using US Navy (USN) and US Marine Corps (USMC) ships as launch pads. While the Apache is not a bespoke naval platform in the same way as the Bell AH-1Z Viper fielded by the USMC, the army has already rolled out some modifications for the helicopter and its crews to aid with over-water operations.
https://www.janes.com/article/88989...ache-helos-with-underwater-crew-escape-system
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F-15EX gets tentative go ahead
It looks like the US Air Force will get the go-ahead to commence procurement of the new Boeing F-15EX. However, a House Armed Services subcommittee said on June 3 that only two jets will be funded until the air force submits the full acquisition strategy and support information required to support such a major proposed project.
The USAF requested $1.1 billion for eight F-15EXs, but only two will initially be funded until the Air Force Secretary submits full development, acquisition, and fielding plans to Congress.
A formal decision is expected today.
https://combataircraft.keypublishing.com/2019/06/04/f-15ex-gets-tentative-go-ahead/
It looks like the US Air Force will get the go-ahead to commence procurement of the new Boeing F-15EX. However, a House Armed Services subcommittee said on June 3 that only two jets will be funded until the air force submits the full acquisition strategy and support information required to support such a major proposed project.
The USAF requested $1.1 billion for eight F-15EXs, but only two will initially be funded until the Air Force Secretary submits full development, acquisition, and fielding plans to Congress.
A formal decision is expected today.
https://combataircraft.keypublishing.com/2019/06/04/f-15ex-gets-tentative-go-ahead/
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The F-15X is needed. Otherwise several hundred tired F-15C/Ds will have to be overhauled and modernized. And the F-15X airframes are good for something like 25,000 hours. They'll still be flying when the early F-35s will be spent and in the boneyard.
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