Sujet: US Air Force - USAF Dim 19 Oct 2008 - 16:43
Rappel du premier message :
l´USAF plane de retirer +300 jets,dont:
-137 F-15 -177 F-16 -9 A-10s
11 ans avant leur date,pour epargner 3,4B$ et accelerer ainsi les F-22/35
mais ca doit dabord passer le congress et le futur president doit signer!
Citation :
US Air Force eyes fighter cuts to boost modernization Wed Oct 15, 2008 5:51pm EDT
WASHINGTON, Oct 15 (Reuters) - The U.S. Air Force is seeking to retire early more than 300 fighter aircraft next year to save $3.4 billion in the hope of funding advanced Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) fighters and other modernization efforts, a published report said on Wednesday, citing internal Pentagon documents.
The plan would retire 137 F-15 and 177 F-16 fighters plus nine A-10 close air support attack aircraft as much as 11 years before the end of their scheduled useful lives, InsideDefense.com, an online news service, reported.
"Without accelerating these retirements, we are left with a larger, less-capable force unable to penetrate anti-access environments," the Air Force was quoted as telling John Young, the Pentagon's top arms buyer, in defense of a fiscal 2010 spending plan it submitted in August.
"Anti-access" is Pentagon jargon for spots defended by advanced surface-to-air missiles and state-of-the-art fighters such as those used or planned by Russia and China.
A key Air Force concern is what it calls a potential fighter gap until Lockheed's radar-evading F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is produced in large numbers.
An Air Force spokesman said it would be inappropriate to discuss an internal working document that will continue to change until it is incorporated into the next president's fiscal 2010 budget submission.
The document was quoted as saying an Air Force analysis showed a "smaller but modernized fighter force, when coupled with a robust bomber fleet, can effectively bridge the gap until the F-35 can be produced in required numbers (ramping to 110) and the F-22 can be modified to a common configuration."
Air Force officials have said they plan to increase F-35 production over the next five years to address the fighter gap, InsideDefense.com said.
Two F-35s have entered flight test, two are in ground test and 17 are in various stages of assembly, including the first two production-model jets scheduled for delivery to the U.S. Air Force in 2010, Lockheed said last month.
The president of the Air Force Association, retired Lt. Gen. Michael Dunn, said it remained to be seen if Congress would let the Air Force get rid of so many aircraft so early and if Pentagon leaders would grab the savings to fund competing priorities within other armed services.
"There will have to be a lot of dialogue inside the Pentagon between the Air Force and the office of the secretary of defense, probably the secretary himself, before a decision is made," Dunn, a former president of the Pentagon's National Defense University, said in a telephone interview.
Old warplanes typically involve high maintenance costs and may require big outlays for structural upgrades. Still, lawmakers often have blocked Air Force attempts to retire aging warplanes early, partly to preserve jobs -- in their voting districts -- at bases from which they are flown.
In the fiscal 2010 budget request being readied at the Pentagon for the next president, the Defense Department is seeking ways to continue production of Lockheed Martin's F-22, the top U.S. dog fighter, while boosting F-35 output to capture economies of scale quickly, Pentagon officials have said.
The final say on whether to go on building the F-22 is being left to the next president, who is to be elected Nov. 4 and take office Jan. 20 -- only weeks before the administration's budget request normally is sent to Congress.
The proposed early retirements represent accelerations of seven years in the case of the F-15, six years for the F-16 and 11 years for the A-10, according to the document cited by InsideDefense.com.
The savings would fuel a push to modernize the Air Force's bombers, late-date fighters and go toward a new "nuclear-specific" B-52 bomber rotational squadron and Northrop Grumman Corp'a (NOC.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aerial system expansion, the document was quoted as saying. (Reporting by Jim Wolf; editing by Carol Bishopric, Gary Hill)
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Sujet: Re: US Air Force - USAF Mer 16 Mar 2011 - 18:09
Citation :
Air Force Gears Up for Hypersonic Missile Test
The Air Force later this month is set to test what could be a ground-breaking flight of a hypersonic missile.
The X-51 WaveRider took its maiden flight last year, demonstrating the longest-ever flight of a supersonic combustion ramjet engine, also known as a scramjet. But the next test flight is expected to fly faster and farther: at speeds of up to Mach 6 and lasting four minutes.
"Our next flight is scheduled for March 22," Charlie Brink, Air Force Research Laboratory's X-51A program manager, told AOL News today.
The X-51 will be launched from a B-52 bomber flying over the Pacific Ocean Point Mugu Naval Air Warfare Center Sea Range, and then will be rocket-boosted to speeds up to several times the speed of sound before transitioning to scramjet power. The last test flight, though successful in some respects, was cut short due to a faulty seal that allowed hot gases to build up inside of the vehicle, rather than going out of the back nozzle as designed.
Although the Air Force has long said that the X-51 could eventually be used for a number of purposes, a senior Air Force official recently confirmed that it is moving forward with plans to turn it into a weapon.
"In Fiscal Year 2012, we will begin weaponizing the X-51 research vehicle," Stephen Walker, the Air Force's deputy assistant secretary for science, told a congressional panel earlier this month. "Development activities will focus on miniaturization of subsystems to allow for a payload and the ability to cold-start the weapon after release from an aircraft."
Pentagon officials have talked about using hypersonic weapons as part of the military's plans to develop a Prompt Global Strike weapon, which could hit anywhere in the world within two hours. Such a missile could be used to hit a fleeing terrorist, or a suspected nuclear site.
Brink declined to go into details on plans to weaponize the X-51, saying the current vehicle is merely for testing. "The X-51 is not a weapon," Brink said.
However, Brink said there are plans to work on technologies that would allow the service to transition the X-51 "to a more weapons-friendly design."
aolnews
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Sujet: Re: US Air Force - USAF Jeu 17 Mar 2011 - 14:09
Citation :
hi-res
hi-res
An Air Force Flight Test Center B-52 Stratofortress from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., carries an X-51A Waverider prior to the scramjet’s first hypersonic flight test on March 26, 2010. Air Force engineers have made design modifications to the three remaining X-51A demonstrators and plan to resume the hypersonic flight test program in early spring of 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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Sujet: Re: US Air Force - USAF Ven 18 Mar 2011 - 15:36
Citation :
U.S. Air Force officials use Global Hawk to support Japan relief efforts
March 17, 2011 by Rob Vogelaar · Comments Off
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii (AFNS) – Pacific Air Forces officials are using an RQ-4 Global Hawk from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, to assist Japan responders in disaster relief and recovery efforts, following the March 11 earthquake and the resulting tsunami off the eastern coast of Japan. The Global Hawk, a high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aircraft, is being used to help assess damage to towns, industrial infrastructure and other facilities affected during the earthquake and flood waters. “The Global Hawk is an ideal ISR asset to aid in disaster relief,” said Gen. Gary North, the PACAF commander. “It directly complements ongoing efforts in the region and represents how advanced technology can provide crucial and timely support to senior officials and search, recovery and disaster relief efforts.” The Global Hawk also was used for disaster relief efforts following the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti in January 2010, officials said. This will be the aircraft’s first use in a humanitarian operation in the Pacific theater since it was permanently assigned at Andersen AFB in September 2010. With approximately 30 hours of flight endurance, the Global Hawk provides a broad view of the situation on the ground, officials said. Its ability to survey large geographic areas also offers decision-makers and first responders near real-time information to assess damage and prioritize for local need. Its long airborne dwell capacity also assures continuous and long-lasting-support for whatever requirements Japan’s government officials may require. “The Global Hawk and the expertise offered by our Airmen further enhances the country’s already robust capabilities as our Air force members work side by side with Japan’s Self Defense Force professionals,” General North said. The aircraft allows the U.S. to effectively support contingencies throughout the region, demonstrating a commitment to partners throughout the Pacific, and is one part of a wide range of PACAF personnel and aircraft that are supporting the Japanese operations, officials said.
aviationnews
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Sujet: Re: US Air Force - USAF Dim 20 Mar 2011 - 10:54
Citation :
HiRes
An F-15 from the 44th Fighter Squadron, 18th Wing, Kadena Air Base, Japan moves into position after being refueled by a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 203rd Air Refueling Squadron, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, while flying over Thailand during Cope Tiger 2011, an annual, multilateral, joint field training exercise currently being conducted at Korat and Udon Thani Royal Thai Air Bases March 14 through 25.
HiRes
U.S. Air Force Capt. Thomas Verhey, an F-15 pilot assigned to the 44th Fighter Squadron, 18th Wing, Kadena Air Base, Japan moves into position to be refueled by a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 203rd Air Refueling Squadron, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, while flying over Thailand during Cope Tiger 2011, an annual, multilateral, joint field training exercise currently being conducted at Korat and Udon Thani Royal Thai Air Bases March 14 through 25. Participants include the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Marine Corps, the Royal Thai Air Force, Royal Thai Army, and the Republic of Singapore Air Force. The 44 FS being refuled by the Hawaii Air National Guard jet is another example of the Total Force Integration that takes place in the U.S. Air Force.
HiRes
U.S. Air Force Capt. Barrick Amundson, an F-15 pilot assigned to the 44th Fighter Squadron, 18th Wing, Kadena Air Base, Japan is refueled by a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 203rd Air Refueling Squadron, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, while flying over Thailand during Cope Tiger 2011, an annual, multilateral, joint field training exercise currently being conducted at Korat and Udon Thani Royal Thai Air Bases March 14 through 25. Participants include the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Marine Corps, the Royal Thai Air Force, Royal Thai Army, and the Republic of Singapore Air Force.
HiRes
An F-15 from the 44th Fighter Squadron, 18th Wing, Kadena Air Base, Japan is refueled by a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 203rd Air Refueling Squadron, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, while flying over Korat, Thailand, on March 18 during Cope Tiger 2011, an annual, multilateral, joint field training exercise currently being conducted at Korat and Udon Thani Royal Thai Air Bases March 14 through 25.
HiRes
Two F-15 Eagles assigned to the 44th Fighter Squadron, 18th Wing, Kadena Air Base, Japan, fall back into formation for exercise maneuvers after being refueled by a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 203rd Air Refueling Squadron, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, while flying over Thailand during Cope Tiger 2011, an annual, multilateral, joint field training exercise currently being conducted at Korat and Udon Thani Royal Thai Air Bases March 14 through 25. Participants include the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Marine Corps, the Royal Thai Air Force, Royal Thai Army, and the Pepublic of Singapore Air Force.
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Sujet: Re: US Air Force - USAF Lun 21 Mar 2011 - 16:56
Citation :
hi-res3/20/2011 hi-res
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE Mo. 509th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, maintainers and crew chiefs, prepare B-2 Stealth Bombers for Operation Odyssey Dawn March 19, 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kenny Holston)(Released)
hi-res hi-res hi-res hi-res hi-res hi-res
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE Mo. 509th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, maintainers and crew chiefs, prepare B-2 Stealth Bombers for Operation Odyssey Dawn March 19, 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kenny Holston)(Released
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Sujet: Re: US Air Force - USAF Mar 22 Mar 2011 - 12:54
Citation :
U.S. Air Force B-2s support Operation Odyssey Dawn
BARKSDALE AFB, La. | Airmen piloting three B-2 Spirits returned to Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., after striking targets in Libya in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn.
The B-2s returned after a more than 25-hour mission in support of the international response to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya.
The B-2s employed 45 guided joint direct attack munitions, each weighing 2,000 pounds, against hardened aircraft shelters in Libya, officials said.
A no-fly zone was imposed by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973, authorizing military action in order to ensure the protection of the Libyan people and compliance with the conditions of UNSCR 1973.
Airmen assigned to the 608th Air Operations Center here coordinated four aerial refuelings for the B-2s during the mission, officials said. The Airmen coordinated the transition of command and control between Global Strike Command and U.S. Africa Command as the aircraft flew from the continental U.S. to African air space and back, officials said.
The goal of coalition strikes is to reduce the Libyan regime's ability to defy the no-fly zone and to enhance protection of coalition air forces charged with implementing it.
defpro
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Sujet: Re: US Air Force - USAF Mar 22 Mar 2011 - 13:14
Citation :
Camelina-Based Biofuel Breaks Sound Barrier on U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor Test Flight
Latest Aircraft to Successfully Test Renewable Fuel Derived from Non-Food Crop Grown in US
08:12 GMT, March 22, 2011 BOZEMAN, Mont. | Sustainable Oils, a producer of renewable, low carbon and domestically made fuels, announced jet fuel derived from its camelina powered the successful test flight of a U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor aircraft. The aircraft was powered by a 50/50 fuel blend of conventional petroleum-based JP-8 and biofuel derived from camelina.
"The F-22 flew on Friday, March 18 and performed flawlessly on the biofuel blend citing no noticeable differences from traditional JP-8," said Jeff Braun, director of the Alternative Fuels Certification Division, part of the Aeronautical Systems Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
According to the Air Force, the flight test “consisted of air starts, operability, and performance at different speeds and altitude throughout the flight envelope. The F-22 Raptor performed several maneuvers including a supercruise at 40,000 ft. reaching speeds of 1.5 Mach. Supercruise is supersonic flight without using the engine's afterburner.”
To date, Sustainable Oils has contracted for more than 500,000 gallons of camelina-based biofuel with the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Army. Fuels derived from camelina have been the most thoroughly tested of all aviation biofuels. They have successfully powered a variety of aircraft, including commercial airlines (Continental, Japan Airlines, KLM) and multiple military aircraft (A-10 Warthog, FA-18 Hornet, and MH-60S Seahawk Helicopter).
“Camelina-based jet fuel is ready for liftoff,” said Scott Johnson, President of Sustainable Oils. “As this most recent test demonstrates, it needs no additional research, development or technology. It actually adds to the food chain, and dramatically reduces the carbon footprint of the fuel.”
Although it is a plant, camelina does not compete with crops grown for food. Rather, it grows well in rotation with wheat and on non-irrigated land. Given its high protein content and Omega 3 fatty acids, its “meal” (what is left after oil extraction from the seed) has been approved by the USDA for livestock and poultry feed, thus adding to the food chain.
A Michigan Tech University life cycle analysis (LCA) of camelina jet fuel showed that it reduces carbon emissions by 75 percent compared to petroleum jet fuel.
defpro
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Sujet: Re: US Air Force - USAF Mar 22 Mar 2011 - 13:38
Citation :
Lockheed to Update USAF F-22 Fleet
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics has been awarded a firm-fixed-price contract modification to update the US Air Force (USAF) F-22 fleet. Under the $18.5m contract, the company will provide non-recurring labour, materials and 233 kits to update the configuration of the electronics warfare power supply on the aircraft. The F-22 Raptor is a single-seat, twin-engine fifth-generation super-manoeuvrable fighter aircraft, designed primarily as an air superiority fighter, but can perform ground attack, electronic warfare, and signals intelligence roles. Work will be carried out at the company's facilities in Georgia, Texas and New Hampshire, US.
airforce
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lida Colonel-Major
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Sujet: Re: US Air Force - USAF Mer 23 Mar 2011 - 21:27
Citation :
SOURCE:Flight International USMC reveals details of F-15E pilot rescue By Craig Hoyle
The US Marine Corps has revealed how it rescued one of the crew members of a US Air Force Boeing F-15E within 90min of crashing in Libya on 21 March, after launching an operation with six aircraft.
Dubbed a 'tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel' mission, the action saw two Bell Boeing MV-22 Osprey tiltrotors (one pictured below), two Sikorsky CH-53E support helicopters carrying quick reaction force personnel, and two Boeing AV-8B Harrier II strike aircraft launched from the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge.
The first of the rescue package was launched within 30min of the crash, while their vessel was around 130nm (240km) away from the accident scene. On arrival, the Harriers dropped two of their 225kg (500lb) laser-guided bombs, before one of the MV-22s landed to extract the pilot.
The entire rescue mission totalled around 90min, from aircraft launch to recovery aboard the USS Kearsarge, the USMC says.
Flying from Aviano air base in Italy, the F-15E was involved in supporting the US-led Operation "Odyssey Dawn" against the regime of Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi. The USAF says the crew ejected after the aircraft "experienced equipment malfunction". Both were rescued after coming down in eastern Libya.
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un petit dessin vaut mieux qu'un long discours
lida Colonel-Major
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Sujet: Re: US Air Force - USAF Mer 23 Mar 2011 - 21:40
Citation :
Libyan Operation Shows Need For Marine Version Of F-35
The coalition air operation against Muammar Ghadaffi has demonstrated the enormous capacity of the U.S. military. Precision weapons took out Ghadaffi's surface-to-air missile sites and aircraft shelters. E/A-18G Growlers jammed Libyan electronics. F-15s and F-16s conducted both counter-air and surface-attack missions. Unmanned systems, most likely the Global Hawk, provided critical reconnaissance and surveillance.
One system that is providing a critical service in this operation is the Harrier jump jet. This Marine Corps close support aircraft has been operating from U.S. large deck amphibious warfare ships in the Mediterranean. Without an aircraft carrier in the area the Harriers are the only system available to conduct responsive air missions. The Harriers provide prompt air power from the coalition platform closest to the Libyan coast.
But the Harrier is aging and must be replaced. The planned replacement is the F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) version of the Joint Strike Fighter. The F-35B will have numerous improvements over the Harrier, notably stealthiness, advanced avionics, improved sensors, and a more powerful engine. This last feature is particularly important because it means the F-35B can carry a significantly greater bomb load to a greater distance than the Harrier.
The current conflict clearly demonstrates the continuing value of the capability the F-35B will provide. The ability to operate from ships other than aircraft carriers, from airfields with short runways or from expedient airbases is of tremendous value in a period of uncertainty and local conflicts.
defpro.
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Sujet: Re: US Air Force - USAF Jeu 24 Mar 2011 - 17:16
Citation :
Air Force to retest X-51 WaveRider hypersonic aircraft near Point Mugu
The unmanned X-51 WaveRider is designed to deliver warheads at very high speeds with pinpoint accuracy almost anywhere on Earth.
At Edwards Air Force Base last year, Staff Sgt. Jonathan Young prepares to load the X-51 WaveRider aircraft onto a B-52 for testing. The Air Force plans to retest the X-51’s capabilities Thursday. (Chad Bellay, U.S. Air Force / March 24, 2011)
.latimes.com
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lida Colonel-Major
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Sujet: Re: US Air Force - USAF Lun 28 Mar 2011 - 2:05
Citation :
BOEING LIGHTS FUSE FOR KC-46A DEVELOPMENT
A top Boeing executive has filled in the date for a key milestone in the development of the KC-46A tanker, saying the deadline for completing "firm configuration" is in the third quarter. Pat Shanahan, vice-president and general manager for Boeing commercial airplane programmes, identifies the milestone, which matches requirements with the engineering needs for the final design for the US Air Force's next tanker. "The fuse is lit," Shanahan says. "We're off and running."
flightglobal.
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Sujet: Re: US Air Force - USAF Lun 28 Mar 2011 - 13:50
Citation :
After five decades, the U-2 is still flying high
The Air Force is breathing new life into an old Cold Warrior — the iconic U-2 spy plane — to meet the need for battlefield surveillance in Afghanistan.
The Air Force had intended this year to ground the U-2, famed for flying over the Soviet Union to hunt for ballistic missiles in the 1950s and '60s.
But there have been delays in the development of the drone aircraft that is to succeed the U-2 and the demand for images on what's happening on the battlefield is a top concern, the military says.
usatoday
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Sujet: Re: US Air Force - USAF Mer 30 Mar 2011 - 13:49
Citation :
Boeing Receives US Air Force Contract for Additional C-130 Modernization Kits
March 29, 2011 by Marcel van Leeuwen · Comments Off
Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that it has been awarded a $31 million follow-on contract from the U.S. Air Force for two more C-130 Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) kits. The agreement, part of a low-rate initial production (LRIP) contract awarded in 2010, also includes support for logistics, engineering and installation, as well as spares support equipment. Air Force personnel at Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, Ga., will begin installing the new kits in mid-2012 with onsite support from Boeing. The aircraft upgrade includes a glass cockpit with a head-up display; six flat-panel, full-color displays; and night-vision capability. Warner Robins will install 10 of the 20 LRIP kits. “As the modification at Warner Robins progresses, our engineering team continues to drive improvements of the installations,” said Bruce Terry, C-130 AMP Low-Rate Initial Production program manager for Boeing. “We are working side by side with the Warner Robins modification and engineering teams to support a timely completion of the kit installs.” Under a previous C-130 AMP contract, Boeing upgraded three test aircraft that are being prepared to enter the Air Force’s initial operation test and evaluation program in January. Boeing will begin its portion of the LRIP installations in early 2012 at the company’s San Antonio facility. Boeing press release
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Sujet: Re: US Air Force - USAF Jeu 31 Mar 2011 - 14:46
Citation :
Air Force Hopes to Buy 80 to 100 Next Gen Bombers
The Air Force will buy between 80 to 100 of its future stealth bombers that are expected to come online in the mid 2020s, Air Force Secretary Michael Donley told lawmakers today. “Between 80 and 100 is the target, this program is very much focused on affordability and poised for technical success,” said Donley during a Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee hearing this morning. This is a significant reduction from reports earlier this year that hinted at a 175-plane buy. He then gave a little more insight into how the airplane will develop when he revealed that the tech used in the plane will come largely from other programs. We already knew this was likely true for the aircraft’s engines but there had been speculation as to how much of the existing technology was already developed for a future bomber versus how much had been developed for programs like the F-35 or the various stealthy UAVs that are out there
“We plan on taking advantage of existing technologies on other programs that are mature, a streamlined management process and a strict limitation on requirements for the system going forward as ways to control cost growth and to keep it on schedule,” said Donley. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz then jumped in and reaffirmed many of the known attributes of the plane: that it will be nuclear-capable (at some point), it will be optionally manned and will work as part of the family of strike and ISR systems rather than being a “lone wolf” capable of doing almost every conceivable high-risk strike mission. The question that now remains is; will early versions of the jet be built with the ability to deliver nuclear weapons and be flown remotely? All of this will likely depend on technology availability and cost
dodbuzz.com
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Sujet: Re: US Air Force - USAF Jeu 31 Mar 2011 - 15:14
Citation :
The military intervention in Libya has cost the U.S. Defense Department $550 million so far, mostly for bombs and missiles, officials said Tuesday. (...) about 60 percent was "for munitions (...) As of Monday, the 10th day of the intervention, the United States had launched 192 long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles from naval positions in the Mediterranean Sea at a cost of $1 million to $1.5 million each. The United States also had flown 983 sorties, 370 of those air missions against military sites and forces and the rest for surveillance, refueling and so on. (...) The United States has broadcast messages to Libyan forces from the Air Force's EC-130 Commando Solo, a modified Hercules transport that conducts information and psychological operations.
American warplanes have dropped 455 precision guided bombs, which each cost tens of thousands of dollars. (...) Three B-2 stealth bombers that flew from Missouri to Libya and back for a bombing run each cost some $10,000 per hour to fly, which means the 25-hour round trip ran up a bill of $750,000, not including the munitions they dropped.
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Sujet: Re: US Air Force - USAF Jeu 31 Mar 2011 - 18:39
Citation :
hires
An F-16 Fighting Falcon, from the 555th Fighter Squadron also known as “Triple Nickel,” Aviano Air Base, Italy, receives fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker, assigned to the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, while flying over Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, March 29.
hires
An F-16 Fighting Falcon, from the 555th Fighter Squadron also known as “Triple Nickel,” Aviano Air Base, Italy, moves away after receiving fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker, assigned to the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, over Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, March 29.
hires
An F-16 Fighting Falcon, from the 555th Fighter Squadron also known as “Triple Nickel,” Aviano Air Base, Italy, moves away after receiving fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker, assigned to the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, over Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, March 29.
hires
An F-16 Fighting Falcon, from the 555th Fighter Squadron also known as “Triple Nickel,” Aviano Air Base, Italy, receives fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker, assigned to the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, while flying over Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, March 29.
hires
An F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot, from the 555th Fighter Squadron also known as “Triple Nickel,” Aviano Air Base, Italy, maintains control of his aircraft while receiving fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker, assigned to the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, over Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, March 29.
hires
An F-15E Strike Eagle, from the 336th Fighter Squadron also known as the “Rocketeers,” Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C., maneuvers into position to receive fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker, assigned to the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, over Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, March 29.
hires
An F-15E Strike Eagle, from the 336th Fighter Squadron also known as the “Rocketeers,” Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C., Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, receives fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker, assigned to the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, while flying over Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, March 29.
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Sujet: Re: US Air Force - USAF Ven 1 Avr 2011 - 16:53
Citation :
hi-res
Airman Michael Doto, 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapon systems technician, steadies a GBU-31 joint direct attack munition while preparing to load it on a B-1B Lancer on Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., March 27, 2011. B-1B Lancers from the 28th Bomb Wing launched early Sunday, March 27 to strike targets in Libya from their home station of Ellsworth Air Force Base in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Marc I. Lane)
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Airmen from the 28th Bomb Wing stand in place to great the return of two B-1B Lancers on Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., March 30, 2011. The B-1s bombed targets in Libya in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Marc I. Lane)
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A fire truck from the 28th Civil Engineer Squadron fire department heralds the return of a B-1B returning from striking targets in Libya in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn, March 30, 2011. This mission from Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D. marked the first time the B-1 fleet has launched combat sorties from the continental United States to strike targets overseas. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Marc I. Lane)
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Airmen from the 28th Bomb Wing salute two returning B-1B Lancers as they taxi to their parking area on Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., March 30, 2011. The B-1s bombed targets in Libya in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Marc I. Lane)
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Airmen from the 28th Bomb Wing salute two B-1B Lancers as they taxis to their parking area on Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., March 30, 2011. The returning B-1s struck targets in Libya in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Marc I. Lane)
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A B-1B returning from a mission to Libya in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn taxis to the aircraft parking area on Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., March 30, 2011. This mission marked the first time the B-1 fleet has launched combat sorties from the continental United States to strike targets overseas. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Marc I. Lane)
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Airmen from the 28th Bomb Wing salute two returning B-1B Lancers as they taxi to their parking area on Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., March 30, 2011. The B-1s struck targets in Libya in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Marc I. Lane)
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The two aircrews from the 34th Bomb Squadron and 28th Operations Support Squadron stand in front of a B-1B at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., March 30, 2011. Two B-1B Lancers from the 28th Bomb Wing launched early Sunday, March 27 from Ellsworth Air Force Base to strike targets in Libya in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Marc I. Lane)
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A B-1B Lancer takes off in support Operation Odyssey Dawn from Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., March 27, 2011. This mission marked the first time the B-1 fleet has launched combat sorties from the continental United States to strike targets overseas. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Marc I. Lane)
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Airmen of the 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron prepare a B-1B Lancer to support Operation Odyssey Dawn on Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., March 27, 2011. Their work was made especially difficult by severe weather conditions including snow, ice, and freezing fog. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Marc I. Lane)
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Airmen from the 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron transfer a two thousand pound bomb from a weapons trailer to the load jammer in preparation of Operation Odyssey Dawn at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., March 26, 2011. Once secure on the load jammer, the two thousand pound bomb will then be loaded into the aircraft bomb bay. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Kasey Close)
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Airmen of the 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron prepare a B-1B Lancer to support Operation Odyssey Dawn on Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., March 27, 2011. Their work was made especially difficult by severe weather conditions including snow, ice, and freezing fog. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Marc I. Lane)
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Airmen of the 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron prepare a B-1B Lancer to support Operation Odyssey Dawn on Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., March 27, 2011. Their work was made especially difficult by severe weather, including four inches of snow; glare ice, and freezing fog. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Marc I. Lane)
_________________ Le Prophéte (saw) a dit: Les Hommes Les meilleurs sont ceux qui sont les plus utiles aux autres
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Sujet: Re: US Air Force - USAF Sam 2 Avr 2011 - 15:18
Citation :
UPDATE: Spangdahlem A-10 crashes
SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) -- An Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II crashed about 3:57 p.m. local time April 1 north of the city of Wittlich, Germany.
The aircraft was from Spangdahlem Air Base. At the time of the accident, it was on a routine local training mission.
The pilot is at a local hospital and is reported to be in good condition. He has been in contact with base leaders. His name is being withheld until his family is notified.
First responders are at the scene and have the situation under control. A board of officers will investigate the accident.
Additional details will be provided as they become available.
www.af.mil/news
_________________ Le Prophéte (saw) a dit: Les Hommes Les meilleurs sont ceux qui sont les plus utiles aux autres
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Sujet: Re: US Air Force - USAF Sam 2 Avr 2011 - 15:30
Citation :
U.S. military personnel are seen at the wreckage of an U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II ground attack aircraft, after it crashed some 200 meters near the village of Laufeld, near the western German town of Wittlich April 1, 2011. The aircraft was on a routine training mission from the nearby Spangdahlem Air Base according to military and police sources. A single pilot was seriously injured and hospitalized after he ejected before the crash.
U.S. military personnel use flags to mark parts of the wreckage from an U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II ground attack aircraft, after it crashed some 200 meters near the village of Laufeld, near the western German town of Wittlich April 1, 2011.
_________________ Le Prophéte (saw) a dit: Les Hommes Les meilleurs sont ceux qui sont les plus utiles aux autres
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Sujet: Re: US Air Force - USAF Lun 4 Avr 2011 - 12:59
Citation :
GD to Support USAF F-22A IMIS Programme
General Dynamics (GD) Information Technology has been awarded a contract to support the US Air Force F-22A Integrated Maintenance Information System programme. The three-year, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract has a total potential value of $23m if all options are exercised. Under the contract, GD will purchase, deliver and integrate ruggedised laptops that will be utilised as portable maintenance aids (PMAs) with F-22A aircraft. PMAs are mobile computing devices that are used at the point-of-maintenance for technical data displays, diagnostic fault isolation, repair mentoring, material management, maintenance documentation, and operational data upload/download. Each laptop will be installed with required software, perform functionality tests and integrate required systems to improve the capabilities of aircraft-maintenance organisations.
_________________ Le Prophéte (saw) a dit: Les Hommes Les meilleurs sont ceux qui sont les plus utiles aux autres
Invité Invité
Sujet: Re: US Air Force - USAF Lun 4 Avr 2011 - 22:12
Citation :
Raytheon's Small Diameter Bomb II Program Completes Critical Design Review Raytheon's GBU-35/B loaded on an F-15E in preparation of free flight tesing. (Photo: Raytheon)
15:50 GMT, April 4, 2011 TUCSON, Ariz. | Raytheon Company's Small Diameter Bomb II program completed a U.S. Air Force critical design review (CDR), clearing the way for the weapon to begin captive flight testing later this year.
"Raytheon's SDB II features a mature tri-mode seeker and a cutting-edge warhead, and completing the CDR proves our design is producible and mature," said Harry Schulte, Raytheon Missile Systems vice president of Air Warfare Systems. "Raytheon has an affordable and executable plan to deliver a robust engineering and manufacturing development program."
SDB II is an air-launched, precision-strike standoff weapon that will enable the warfighter to defeat moving and fixed targets in adverse weather conditions. The weapon incorporates an improved seeker that features three modes of operation: millimeter-wave radar, uncooled imaging infrared and semiactive laser.
"By using an uncooled seeker and other innovative approaches, we can reduce part count, which improves reliability and reduces the life-cycle and production cost of the weapon," said Tom White, Raytheon's SDB II program director. "The CDR demonstrated Raytheon and its suppliers can balance the cost, performance, schedule and risk of the SDB II program."
defpro
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Sujet: Re: US Air Force - USAF Mer 6 Avr 2011 - 12:59
Citation :
USAF Will Likely Pick Off-The-Shelf Trainer
The U.S. Air Force will likely pick an aircraft that is already in production for its nascent T-X advanced jet-trainer program to replace its geriatric fleet of the T-38 Talon trainers, the service's top civilian leader told reporters.
"In T-X, we are looking for probably a commercial derivative, something that's [already] being produced elsewhere," Air Force Secretary Michael Donley said April 5 at a Defense Writers Group breakfast Analysts said that the revelation comes as no surprise because the service simply does not have the research and development funds to design a clean-sheet aircraft design. "I don't think anyone had the illusion they had the [research and development] cash," said Richard Aboulafia, an analyst at the Teal Group, Fairfax, Va. However, Aboulafia said, the Air Force might run into trouble with buying an off-the-shelf airframe if it cannot keep its requirements in check. "The real danger is, you start with a simple off-the-shelf airplane and then start adding all sorts of bells and whistles, and you can get into real trouble especially in these times of limited budgets," he said. Donley said one approach that might remedy the problem of ever-expanding requirements is to limit engineering change authority to the top levels of Air Force leadership, which is the how the service has said it plans to manage its KC-46A tanker program. However, there are drawbacks to that approach, Aboulafia said. "With a tanker, that's close to a commodity product, but with a tanker they might have more exacting specifications. But that's the approach to take," he said.
defensenews
_________________ Le Prophéte (saw) a dit: Les Hommes Les meilleurs sont ceux qui sont les plus utiles aux autres
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Sujet: Re: US Air Force - USAF Ven 8 Avr 2011 - 16:07
Dim 19 Oct 2008 - 16:43
Le Prophéte (saw) a dit: Les Hommes Les meilleurs sont ceux qui sont les plus utiles aux autres
un petit dessin vaut mieux qu'un long discours 
