US Marine Corps (USMC)

Jolie prouesse en video d'un pilote d'AV8 harrier sans train d'atterissage.....
http://www.latribune.fr/entreprises-finance/industrie/aeronautique-defense/20140630trib000837667/il-pose-un-avion-de-chasse-sur-un-porte-avion-sans-train-d-atterrissage.html

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USMC to reduce Shadow budget to fund Blackjack engine upgrade



The US Marine Corps (USMC) has requested that the US Congress allow it to shift USD18.75 million from its RQ-7B Shadow unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to its RQ-21 Blackjack UAV programme in order to extend the latter's range.

"Force rebalancing and the Marine Corps focus on shipboard operations have prioritised the need to accelerate amphibious intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR)."

Integration of a heavy fuel engine "will be the first step in enabling the extension of the current RQ-21 range and will influence a significant area of the battle space and reduce ground control station requirements," the document said.

Funds would be taken from the Shadow programme "because of a shift in focus to shipboard operations" and because the "RQ-7B is not shipboard compatible", according to the document. The USMC would forego upgrades for two of its 13 RQ-7B Shadow UAVs with the Tactical Common Data Link (TCDL).

The RQ-21A is a larger follow-on to the Boeing/Insitu ScanEagle. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) said in May 2014 that the system made its first operational deployment overseas at the end of April.

An RQ-21A system constitutes five air vehicles, two ground control stations, and payloads to support ISR and communications relay for up to 12 hours per day continuously with a short surge capability for 24 hours a day. Payloads include day/night full-motion video cameras, infrared marker, laser range finder, communications relay package, and Automatic Identification System receivers. The air vehicle can travel up to 80 kt and has a ceiling of 15,000 ft (4,572 m), with a minimal operating radius of 50 n miles (92.6 km).

http://www.janes.com/

Il est moche a voir cet engin   

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UHAC Ultra Heavy-lift Amphibious Connector

U.S. Marine Corps test new Ultra Heavy-Lift Amphibious Connector UHAC during RIMPAC 2014.
Members of the U.S. Marine Corps Warfighting Lab (MCWL) tested a model version of the Ultra Heavy-lift Amphibious Connector (UHAC) at the RIMPAC 2014, the world's largest international military maritime exercise. The UHAC is an amphibious craft that has three times the lift capacity and greater coastal access than the Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC.)



The UHAC began testing on July 9 at the Marine Corps Training Area Bellows on Oahu, Hawaii and it is taking part in the Rim of the Pacific Exercise 2014 which is currently underway until August 1.

The AWE is taking part during the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise 2014. Lt. Col. Don Gordon, the current technology officer at MCWL, said the UHAC is one of those experimental technologies that displays a possible capability of being able to insert Marines in areas where current technology wouldn’t be able to insert them based on current systems that are fielded.

The AWE (Advanced Warfighting Experiment) is the culmination of a decade of progressive experimentation conducted by the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab (MCWL) where they are testing potential future technologies, solutions and concepts to future Marine Air Ground Task Force challenges.

The UHAC prototype is a ship-to-shore connector and is half the size of the intended machine. Currently, the UHAC travels at four knots using a track system with floatation-like pads that propels itself through different terrain



Less than half the size of the actual UHAC, the Warfighting Laboratory was here to see their project in action for the first time after years of planning.

If the concept model goes through, the UHAC could work side by side with the LCAC, which currently does all the ship-to-shore transportation of everything from High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) to tanks.

“The full-scale model should be able to carry at least three tanks and a HMMVW,” said Gunnery Sgt. Joseph Perera, the lab’s Infantry Weapons Project Officer. “It’s going to save a lot of time and fuel for the Marine Corps as well.”

Although the concept model doesn’t appear to be armored well, the final production is planned to have armor plating and .50-caliber machine guns, which Perera says are needed on the UHAC to be able to protect itself.

http://www.armyrecognition.com/weapons_defence_industry_military_technology_uk/u.s._marine_corps_test_new_ultra_heavy-lift_amphibious_connector_uhac_during_rimpac_2014_1107142.html

ca rappel les premiers british tanks Mark I de WW1

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Marine Corps Forces Pacific (MARFORPAC)

The Legged Squad Support System (LS3) walks around the Kahuku Training Area July 10, 2014 during the Rim of the Pacific 2014 exercise. The
LS3 is experimental technology being tested by the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab during RIMPAC 2014. It is programmed to follow an operator
through terrain, carrying heavy loads like water and food to Marines training. There are multiple technologies being tested during RIMPAC
, the largest maritime exercise in the Pacific region. This year's RIMPAC features 22 countries and around 25,000 people.
(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Sarah Dietz/RELEASED)

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Marine Corps Forces Pacific (MARFORPAC)

They Call Me....GUSS (6 photos)

The Ground Unmanned Support Surrogate (GUSS) is experimental technology being tested by Marine Corps Warfighting Lab during Rim of the
Pacific (RIMPAC) 2014; it's a multi-purpose support vehicle equipped with sensors to allow operation with or without a driver.  


  

PHOTOS:

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26.07.2014

Drones, F-16 et QRF de l'USMC pour évacuer l'ambassade US de Tripoli



C'est temporaire, assure le State Department (DoS): un convoi de 27 SUV et un camion a évacué ce matin tous les personnels civils et militaires (80 marines) présents à Tripoli (150 personnes au total), dans le compound de l'ambassade US en Libye.

Le Department of Defense (DoD) a expliqué avoir assuré la sécurité de l'opération avec des chasseurs F-16, des moyens ISR (des drones certainement) et une "Airborne Response Force" équipée de MV-22 Ospreys.

L'évacuation par voie terrestre résulte des combats à la roquette et à l'artillerie entre milices rivales qui font rage depuis deux semaines dans Tripoli.

http://lignesdedefense.blogs.ouest-france.fr/archive/2014/07/26/drones-f16-et-qrf-de-l-usmc-pour-evacuer-l-ambassade-us-de-t-12228.html

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Aiirsource

US Marines Scout Snipers. (14 photos)


  

PHOTOS:

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Marine Corps Forces Pacific (MARFORPAC) a partagé le statut de Marine Rotational Force Darwin.

MRF-D training hard.

Check out the photos from the final part of Exercise Koolendong!

PHOTOS:

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USMC Super Stallion helo crashes in Gulf of Aden, no casualties

Gareth Jennings, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly

02 September 2014


A CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter similar to this crashed while attempting to land aboard the USS Mesa Verde. All 25 on board
were recovered safely. Source: US Navy  

A US Marine Corps (USMC) Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion transport helicopter crashed while trying to land on a US Navy (USN) ship in the Gulf of Aden on 1 September.

The helicopter crashed into the sea after attempting to land on the USS Mesa Verde (LPD-19) San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship. All 25 crew aboard the helicopter were safely recovered onto the ship shortly after.

While the USMC and USN are investigating the incident, the US Department of Defense said it was not caused by hostile action.

The USMC currently has about 150 CH-53E helicopters that have been in service since 1981.

http://www.janes.com/article/42628/usmc-super-stallion-helo-crashes-in-gulf-of-aden-no-casualties

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Final Flight of Huey for 'Red Dogs'




NAVAL AIR STATION JOINT RESERVE BASE, New Orleans -- After more than 40 years of service, the Marine Corps retired the aging UH-1N Huey helicopter during a “sundown ceremony” Aug. 28, 2014, aboard Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, New Orleans.

The UH-1N Huey is a twin engine, utility helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopters in 1969. Bell began the delivery of 205 UH-1N helicopters, to the Navy and Marine Corps in 1971. For more than 40 years of service, the UH-1N has been operationally employed in Vietnam, Grenada, the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq. The UH-1N flew its last combat flight in 2010 in Afghanistan.

“Over the years the Marine Corps has developed a number of upgrades for the aircraft including improved avionics, aircraft survivability equipment and a forward looking infrared sensor,” said Maj. Joseph C. Begley, an AH-1W pilot with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 773 Detachment A, Marine Aircraft Group 49, during the ceremony opening remarks.

The UH-1N holds sentimental value for many who attended the final flight. During the ceremony, many shared their personal accounts about the aircraft.

“The UH-1N is American history; it’s a touch tone aircraft of combat for a full generation,” said Col. Philip M. Pastino, commanding officer of MAG-49. “I was a lieutenant at the El Toro airshow in 1990 manning my Huey, [during] a static display, when an older gentleman stood back and stared for a good while. After a pause he asked me in a shaky voice if he could touch the Huey. He slowly approached the aircraft and placed his hands on the cargo deck and he started to cry. I didn’t know what to do so I put my hand on his shoulder. He told me that his brothers that didn’t come home, and were now on the Vietnam Memorial Wall, flew their last flight in a UH-1N. I knew then that it wasn’t my Huey at the airshow, it was his and a whole generation’s.”

The UH-1N platform flown by HMLA-773, has been replaced by the new UH-1Y Venom platform which provides drastically improved capabilities to its predecessor in terms of range, airspeed, payload, survivability and lethality.

In 1996, the Marine Corps launched the H-1 upgrade program, signing a contract with Bell Helicopter for upgrading 100 UH-1Ns into UH-1Ys. The largest improvement was the increase in engine power. Replacing the engines and the two-bladed rotor system with four blades, the Y-model will return the Huey to the utility role for which it was designed. Originally, the UH-1Y was to be remanufactured from UH-1N airframes, but in April 2005, approval was granted to build them as new helicopters.

“A big thing for us is training and the UH-1Y is really going to help us be combat ready and have a more predominant place in Marine Corps aviation,” said Lt. Col. Mark Sauer, commanding officer of Det. C, MAG-49.

Though the UH-1N has retired, the Marine Corps and HMLA-773 have great expectations for their new platform, the UH-1Y Venom.

http://www.marforres.marines.mil

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Aiirsource

U.S. Marines & French Foreign Legion Small Arms Cross Training

 

excellentes vidéos.

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Flight Test Successful on V-22 Engine Upgrade



WASHINGTON — Rolls-Royce has completed a successful flight test of its new engine upgrade for the V-22.

Company officials say the test, conducted in New Mexico earlier this summer, met expectations of a 17 percent power increase to the engines. That will enable the Osprey to fly at 6,000 feet in 95 degree temperatures, an improvement that would address a major challenge to V-22 operations in regions such as the Middle East.

Tom Hartmann, Rolls’ senior vice president for customer business, said the biggest driver of the power improvement comes from a relatively new turbine added to the engine.

The Block 3 turbine design, based on a commercial product Rolls-Royce has used on other aircraft, began being installed on new production models in July 2012.

Also playing a role in the extra power is improvements to flow capacity of the fuel valve and a software update.

“You don’t need the extra power all the time, so when you don’t need it you’re running cooler, and when you run cooler it lowers operational cost,” Hartmann said. “We will give operators what they need when they need to run certain missions, but for the vast number of missions it will have a positive effect on durability.”

The Rolls AE 1107C engine powers the V-22s across the services. The US Air Force’s fleet of CV-22s are used for special operations missions. The US Marine Corps’ MV-22 has two variants, the B and C models, which are used in the transportation of troops and equipment.

“That’s our goal and desire,” Hartmann said when asked if he expected the Marines to use the new upgrade. “We are putting all Block 3 turbines in and replacing older turbines under our mission care construct. So not every engine will have it right away on the V-22s, but eventually everyone will be converted over to that configuration.

“Whether the Marines want to unlock the extra power or not, I think they still need to evaluate down the road.”

In the meantime, the Air Force was “thrilled” with the test flight, Hartmann said. Upgrades to the existing V-22 fleet could begin within 18-24 months of going on contract, depending on whether long-lead items can be procured ahead of time.

Getting on contract, of course, isn’t easy in this day and age.

“We are supporting them by providing them estimates on what it would take to convert,” Hartmann said. “I would hope that if its mission essential they will find a way to prioritize it high enough.”

In addition to the V-22 upgrade, the company received certification from the Air Force in July for its Series 3.5 engine upgrade for the T56 engine, used in the global C-130 fleet. Rolls officials have said they expect to be on contract with the Air Force in the next year to upgrade the C-130H models used primarily by the National Guard.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) became the first customer to adapt the Series 3.5 upgrade for two P-3 “Hurricane Hunter” surveillance aircraft, which also use the T56 engine.

Hartmann said the company was “pleased” with how the P-3 test flights have been going, and noted the company has had interested both domestically and international on its Series 3.5 solution.

“We’re excited to start exploring with those customers how to make it a reality,” he said, while declining to identify potential customers.

Asked whether relying on smaller upgrades to existing engines is part of a corporate strategy to deal with ongoing budget reductions worldwide, Hartmann described the V-22 and Series 3.5 upgrades as in line with the history of upgrading the T56 engine.

“As time moves on, technologies get better and you like to spiral them in,” he said. “That has been a focus of this company for a long time.”

The difference is even low-cost, high-saving upgrades have to fight for budget space these days, Hartmann said.

“The big challenge is once you get it invented you have to get the budget and the attention of the customer to field it, and that’s often the hardest part,” he said. “Figuring out the cool new thing to provide to the customer to improve their affordability and capability is something we can do pretty readily. Then you have to do the hard thing of getting it actually in the field.”■

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VMX-22 receives first F-35B aircraft



WASHINGTON --

Marine Operational and Evaluation Squadron 22 received its first F-35B aircraft at Edwards Air Force Base, California for operational testing Oct. 9, 2014.

“VMX-22’s mission is to conduct operational testing and evaluation of U.S. Marine Corps’ fixed, tiltrotor, and rotary-wing aircraft, Unmanned Aerial Systems, and Marine Air Command and Control Systems, support concept development, and assist in the creation of Marine aviation tactics, techniques and procedures through experimentation and support to tactical demonstrations,” said Col. Robert L. Rauenhorst, commanding officer of Marine Operational and Evaluation Squadron 22.

Previously, VMX-22 only consisted of MV-22 and CH-53 aircraft, but the arrival of the F-35B marks the start of VMX-22 fixed wing flight operations. This is the first of four F-35B aircraft that will arrive over the upcoming months at Edwards Air Force Base.

“The addition of the F-35B at VMX-22 will help to develop increased capabilities and interoperability of the Aviation Combat Elements to support the Marine Air/Ground Task Force of the 21st century,” Rauenhorst said.

The operational testing will determine how effective and suitable the F-35B aircraft will be in its intended operational environment. The successful completion of the operational testing is required in order for the aircraft to proceed from low-rate initial production into full rate production.

Operational testing will be held at Edwards Air Force Base, Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division China Lake, California; Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada; Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California; Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona; and aboard the USS Wasp.

The F-35B operational test is slated to be complete by 2018 at Edwards Air Force Base and will be continued throughout the life of the F-35 program as major block upgrades are completed.

http://www.marines.mil/

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RAF Voyager has for the first time successfully refuelled United States Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier II aircraft in support of US-led air strikes against ISIL.


Voyager refuels US Marine Corps AV-8B Harriers


RAF Voyager has for the first time successfully refuelled United States Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier II aircraft in support of US-led air strikes against ISIL.

Two AV-8B single engine ground-attack aircraft were refuelled by Voyager in the early hours (UK time) of Thursday [2/10/14] following special operational clearance.

Part of the second generation of the legendary Harrier ‘Jump Jet’ family, the AV-8B is capable of vertical or short take-off and landing, with primary tasking in light-attack or multi-role missions, including close air support of ground troops to armed reconnaissance.

RAF Voyager support for US-led operations in Iraq began on 10th August, with the deployment of two airframes based at RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus. This included operations in support of Hercules C-130 aid drops and Tornado GR4 reconnaissance missions over Northern Iraq.

A single Voyager has supported continuing Tornado operations since the UK parliamentary vote in support of air strikes on 26/9/14.

Operated by the RAF and provided by AirTanker, whose shareholders include Airbus, Rolls Royce, Thales, Cobham and Babcock, Voyager is a Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft and a militarily converted derivative of the A330-200.


To date, the company, which was appointed by the MOD in 2008, has delivered 10 aircraft under the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) contract. This includes a core capability of nine aircraft, which was declared by the MOD this summer. This is made up of eight aircraft flown by the RAF on the Military Aircraft Register (2x two-point tankers and 6x three-point tankers) and one aircraft is flown on the CAR by AirTanker under its own AOC.



AirTanker is currently running a military to civil conversion on the tenth aircraft at its RAF Brize Norton operational hub. The delivery of the 11th aircraft is expected in early 2015. A further three aircraft will be delivered up until the end of 2016, forming a five strong MRTT/A330-200 ‘surge fleet’.

These aircraft are available to the MOD if required at time of major conflict. When not required by the RAF, this surge fleet capability is available to AirTanker for release, with its agreement, for other purposes. This could include release to the charter market, less its military equipment or to partner nations in a military capacity with the MOD’s agreement.

https://www.airtanker.co.uk

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Photo Release -- Northrop Grumman Awarded Contract to Begin Low-Rate Initial Production of New Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar for the US Marine Corps


BALTIMORE – October 28, 2014 – The U.S. Marine Corps has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) a $207,291,682 contract for low-rate initial production (LRIP) of AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) systems.

A photo accompanying this release is available at: http://media.globenewswire.com/noc/mediagallery.html?pkgid=28680

G/ATOR is the first ground-based multimission active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar to be developed by the Department of Defense (DOD). It provides air surveillance, air defense, ground weapon locating and air traffic control capabilities. Under Northrop Grumman funding, G/ATOR has also demonstrated its ability to reliably detect high-speed rocket and missile systems.

"G/ATOR will fundamentally change how the Marines deploy and fight," said Jeffrey Q. Palombo, vice president and general manager, Land and Self Protection Systems Division, Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems. "Evidenced by the mission capabilities proven during operational testing, the Marines will have an unprecedented degree of protection and situational awareness."

Under terms of the contract with the Marine Corps Program Executive Office for Land Systems, Northrop Grumman will deliver the systems in 2016-17. Additional LRIP contracts are anticipated, followed by multiyear, full-rate production. Additional funding will also be placed on contract to incorporate new software-based capabilities for this multimission radar system. G/ATOR's total program value could exceed $2 billion.

This initial LRIP award follows comprehensive subsystem and system level G/ATOR testing, including one year of developmental testing, a formal Marine Corps operational assessment and a detailed production readiness review in 2013. The system reached a successful Milestone C in January as part of the formal DOD acquisition process, which resulted in the recommendation to enter LRIP.

Northrop Grumman is a leader in the development of AESA radar systems and is also on contract to develop and test high-performance short- and medium-range radars for other DOD ground- and ship-based applications. The company's family of ground radar systems includes the Highly Adaptable Multi-Mission Radar AESA systems as well as the solid-state AN/TPS-78 and TPS-703 radar systems.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in unmanned systems, cyber, C4ISR, and logistics and modernization to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.

http://www.globenewswire.com

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Marine Corps F-35s might miss July operational deadline

The US Marine Corps still plans on having 10 war-ready Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II jets by 1 July, 2015, but the loss of 45 flight testing days may mean that long-emphasised date will slip by days or weeks.

In the context of a programme that has had a “tragic past” and has missed developmental milestones by years, overshooting the Marine Corps initial operating capability (IOC) deadline by days or weeks is still considered a success, Lt Gen Christopher Bogdan tells reporters.

“From an overall programme perspective”, Bogdan says “missing a date by days and weeks compared to the tragic past this programme has had where we’ve missed things by years, I’d say we’re getting better.”

“July 1, 2015 is a tough date to hit,” he says. “There’s no way in the world we’re missing that by months. It’s not going to happen.”

The service, which will be the first to receive operational F-35s, already had taken concessions in order to bring its short-takeoff and vertical landing version online in 2015. Their initial F-35Bs will fly with a less-capable version of the avionics software and will have to be retrofit with the final configuration.

“We’re talking weeks, here,” he adds. “My commitment is July 1, 2015, and if I miss that date, I’m going to apologize to the US Marine Corps.”

Meeting the Marine Corp’s IOC goal started to look untenable when in June a third-stage rotor in the Pratt & Whitney F135 engine of an Air Force conventional takeoff and landing F-35A shattered prior to a test flight. The titanium rotor punctured an aft fuel tank and sparked a fire. The entire 100-plus fleet of test aircraft and fielded jets was subsequently grounded and continues to fly under performance restrictions. That cost the programme 45 days of critical testing needed to confidently meet the 1 July IOC date, Bogdan says. He says the programme will go on a "surge war footing" in an attempt to make those days up.

“We underestimated, in the design of the engine, how much rubbing could potentially occur,” he says.

To get the test fleet back to flying a full profile, those engines will be “burned in” during two flights of defined profiles to pre-trench the stator surrounding the rotors. The process takes two flights of about an hour each, Bogdan says. Four test aircraft have already undergone the process.

New engines will be “pre-trenched” so that the rotor blades will not rub against the stators during complex flight manoeuvres. All 19 test aircraft should have one or the other fix within the next two months, Bogdan says. If navy and air force air worthiness authorities OK either fix, they will be applied to fielded jets, he says.

The pre-trenching method requires fabrication of a new stator, of which Pratt & Whitney produce only about one per week. Retrofitting a fleet of more than 100 aircraft, therefore would take more than two years. It is unclear when a permanent fix, which could mirror the pre-trenching method, will be cut into the engine production line, Bogdan says.

Negotiations on the eighth lot of engines, which are purchased separately from the Lockheed airframes, has been completed. The $1.05 billion deal is for 48 engines and achieved a price reduction of 4.5 percent from the previous lot of 36 engines, Bogdan says.

http://www.flightglobal.com