JSF Program Improving, Still In Crosshairs

Apr 15, 2008
Michael Fabey/Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

While the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program’s recent Selected Acquisition Report points to some cost stability within the program, the program still faces some serious challenges ahead, a recent Teal Group report says.

Industrial “greed” abroad and program commitment at home continue to put the F-35 in the crosshairs, according to the report.

“The industrial situation has degenerated into a beg-a-thon,” the report says. “For a program that was supposed to break the cycle of offset demands, F-35 has actually engendered nothing but industrial greed, fueled by implied promises and aggressive salesmanship.”

The report continues: “There appears to be no way to reconcile “best value” contracts and “strategic sourcing” contracts. As third-tier contracts continue to trickle down, there should be enough work to keep international partners happy, but if there isn’t – and if the competition provides some aggressive offers – there could be one or two defectors.”

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Boeing, Sikorsky Ramp Up Next- Generation Transport Helicopters

Apr 21, 2008
Joris Janssen Lok/Defense Technology International

Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan demonstrate that medium- and heavy-lift transport helicopters that perform well in hot and high conditions are vital—yet are always in short supply. So despite years spent mulling the prospect of a 20-ton-payload Joint Heavy Lift transport rotorcraft, the U.S. military is going ahead with new and significantly improved versions of the venerable Boeing CH-47 and Sikorsky CH-53 transport helicopters, whose origins date back some 50 years.

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Hopes of buying F-22 still alive

March 25, 2008

DEFENCE Minister Joel Fitzgibbon will step up pressure on the US to overturn its ban on the sale of the F-22 Raptor fighter, amid growing federal government concern about delays and cost increases affecting the Joint Strike Fighter program.

Foreign sales of the F-22, described by many aviation experts as the world's best air superiority fighter, are banned by Congress, but there are signs that Washington might make an exemption for Australia.


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Five years later, it's still known as 'Mother of all bombs'



3/13/2008
by Staff Sgt. Stacia Zachary
96th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE. Fla. (AFPN) -- What's worse than unleashing on society the wrath of the largest non-nuclear bomb yet to be made? Letting the world know it's out there and ready to be used at any moment.

The guided bomb unit-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb is a 21,600 pound, Global Positioning System-guided munition with precision guidance and architecture to be delivered accurately to enemy forces with the main intention of permanently disabling them. The goal was to put pressure on then-Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein to cease and desist United Nations violations.


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Cancer Scare Cripples F-16s

March 23, 2008

Israel has halted training flights of its new F-16I fighters because formaldehyde is leaking into the cockpit and making pilots nauseous. Formaldehyde can also cause cancer after prolonged exposure. Israel has demanded that the U.S. manufacturer of the F16 find and fix the problem. That may be difficult. There have been no other incidents like this, and over 4,000 F-16s are in use by 24 countries. The problem may lie in modifications Israel has made to the aircraft.

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The sixth downloadable content package has been announced:

Gryphus F-22A


The Gryphus Raptor is a free download with more balanced stats than the default model.

Razgriz Pack 2


The Razgriz Su-47, Typhoon, and A-10 have lowered stats and lock on rates in exchange for more armor.

Indigo Wing F-22A


The Indigo has near-instant lock on rates plus 800 standard missiles.

Zipang F-14D


The Zipang F-14D has increased mobility and lowered speed and lock on times.

Idolm@ster Haruka F-22A



The Haruka F-22 has virtually identical stats to the default F-22 with additional weapons, emphasizing SODs.

Idolm@ster Yayoi Mirage


The Yayoi Mirage has maxed out speed and AG stats as well as an increased payload.


Co-op 2


Co-op battle 2 is a larger-scale version of the Chandelier mission for multiplayer.

Ace of Aes 2


Ace of Aces 2 is a larger-scale version of the Vitoze Aerial Defense mission with enemy ESM that reduces the player's missiles' accuracy.

B-1B achieves first supersonic flight using synthetic fuel



3/20/2008
Staff Sgt. Matthew Bates
Air Force News Agency

DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) -- A B-1B Lancer from the 9th Bomb Squadron here became the first Air Force aircraft to fly at supersonic speed using an alternate fuel March 19 in a flight over Texas and New Mexico.

The fuel, a 50/50 blend of synthetic and petroleum gases, is being tested as part of an ongoing Air Force program to help the environment and to use a fuel produced domestically.

Air Force officials are in the process of evaluating and certifying this alternative fuel, which is derived from natural gas using the Fischer-Tropsch process, for use in all Air Force aircraft.

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Please Don't Take Away My B-52s

March 18, 2008

The U.S. Air Force wants to maintain its current fleet of B-52s at 76 aircraft, despite a Congressional mandate to reduce that number to 56. That's because the B-52 has become the cheapest way to make war these days. With the development of GPS guided bombs (JDAM), heavy bombers have become the most cost-effective way to deliver support to ground forces. The B-52 is the cheapest American heavy bomber to operate.

In the last fifty years, the air force has developed six heavy bombers (the 240 ton B-52 in 1955, the 74 ton B-58 in 1960, the 47 ton FB-111 in 1969, the 260 ton B-70 in the 1960s, the 236 ton B-1 in 1985, and the 181 ton B-2 in 1992.) All of these were developed primarily to deliver nuclear weapons (bombs or missiles), but have proved more useful dropping non-nuclear bombs. Only the B-70 was cancelled before being deployed.

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