US Air Force - USAF

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)

http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN1531730620081015?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0

Citation :

The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds show us what fearless flying is all about! Here's the Delta Opener maneuver during the Quad City Air Show at Davenport Municipal Airport in Iowa on Sept. 2.

(photo: Tech. Sgt. Manuel J. Martinez, USAF)

Citation :

The stars align...United States Air Force C-5 Galaxies cargo aircraft line up on a Westover, MA Air Reserve Base runway to make room for an air show. (photo by: SrA. Kelly Galloway)

Citation :

U.S. Air Force Chooses Northrop Grumman to Demonstrate Next-Generation Air Defense Radar System

ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill., Sept. 11, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The U.S. Air Force has awarded Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) a contract to demonstrate technologies for its Three-Dimensional Expeditionary Long-Range Radar (3DELRR) program. Designed to replace the current AN/TPS-75 radar systems, 3DELRR will be the primary Air Force ground-based, long-range radar for detecting airborne threats. The pre-engineering and manufacturing development contract, valued at $34.7 million, will last 15 months. Based on Northrop Grumman's active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar technology, the company's 3DELRR solution is a highly mobile, affordable and reliable radar system that will give the Air Force powerful new capabilities for air defense. "We are pleased to have been chosen to participate in demonstrating the Air Force's future ground radar system," said Jeff Palombo, vice president and general manager of Northrop Grumman's Land and Self Protection Systems division. "Because our solution is based on mature AESA technology and its implementation into multiple radar systems for airborne and ground-based applications, Northrop Grumman is uniquely able to offer significant cost savings to the Air Force over the life cycle of the program. This includes the near-term engineering and manufacturing development phase as well as the potential to accelerate 3DELRR IOC Initial Operational Capability, which will save operational and maintenance costs on the aging TPS-75 systems." Northrop Grumman is a leader in the development of AESA radar systems. The company's ground radar systems include the AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar and Highly Adaptable Multi-Mission Radar AESA systems, and the solid-state AN/TPS-78 and TPS-703 radar systems.

www.irconnect.com

Citation :

Eglin Air Force Base, Florida

Citation :

Senior Airman Dominique Wilson, a crew chief with the 309th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, talks with the F-16 pilot over the radio during pre-flight checks on the 33rd Fighter Wing flightline Sept. 6 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Approximately 36 Luke Air Force Base Airmen, assigned to the 309th, maintain four F-16s used as chase aircraft for F-35 flights and to maintain pilot proficiency. Airmen from Luke’s various F-16 maintenance squadrons have been rotating to Eglin to support this mission since January 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Citation :

USAF C-130 completes first flight with enhanced Rolls-Royce Engine

Monday, 17 September 2012
National Harbor, US – Rolls-Royce, the global power systems company, and the US Air Force are conducting flight tests for an enhancement for the T56 turboprop engine, which powers the C-130H transport aircraft. The Series 3.5 Engine Enhancement is designed to deliver fuel savings and reliability improvements, resulting in improved life cycle costs.

The first C-130H test aircraft began flying recently at Edwards Air Force Base, CA. The Series 3.5 Engine Enhancement has already demonstrated greater than 8 percent fuel burn improvement in ground tests, using proven technologies from other Rolls-Royce commercial and military engines, including new blade and vane materials and advanced turbine airfoil aerodynamic designs. The Series 3.5 will also improve performance in 'hot and high' conditions.

Tom Bell, Rolls-Royce, President, Customer Business – Defense, said, "We look forward to carrying out flight tests to confirm what we have already demonstrated in the test cell – significant savings in fuel costs, improved reliability and performance. Rolls-Royce has invested to help the US Air Force and other operators around the world meet their goal of reducing fuel costs, while also extending the life of the C-130 fleet and potentially saving billions of dollars."

The Series 3.5 Engine Enhancement program is expected to enable the USAF to continue to operate its C-130H fleet until 2040, and a USAF analysis estimated its long-term savings from the Series 3.5 enhancements could reach $2 Billion.

The engine improvements can be accomplished as part of a conventional engine overhaul, and do not require any aircraft or engine control system modifications. Each C-130 aircraft has four Rolls-Royce T56 engines, with approximately 220 C-130H models eligible for upgrades.

The Series 3.5 program will help the Air Force to achieve its goal of reducing consumption of aviation fuel by 10 percent by 2015.

/www.rolls-royce.com

Citation :

Raytheon awarded second low-rate initial production contract for US Air Force F-15E Radar Modernization Program


APG-82(V)1 active electronically scanned array radar to provide advanced combat capabilities and improved reliability


EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Sept. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has been awarded its second contract from Boeing Company for low-rate initial production (LRIP) of active electronically scanned array radar systems for the U.S. Air Force F-15E Radar Modernization Program.

Raytheon's APG-82(V)1 AESA radar can simultaneously detect, identify and track multiple air and surface targets at longer ranges than the APG-70 radar it replaces. The system offers a substantial improvement in reliability and reduces Air Force maintenance costs.

"Raytheon's APG-82 radars will allow F-15E pilots to fly into battle with increased confidence knowing they are using the world's most advanced airborne radar system," said Mark Kula, vice president of Tactical Airborne Systems for Raytheon's Space and Airborne Systems business. "Raytheon leads the world in AESA radar production, with more than 400 systems delivered and 300,000 operational flight hours achieved on multiple platforms."

Raytheon is scheduled to begin delivery of the LRIP-2 radar systems in February 2014. Final delivery of the initial LRIP lot of six APG-82(V)1 radars is scheduled to be completed by that date.

/raytheon.mediaroom.com

Citation :

Lockheed-Martin sévèrement critiqué par le responsable chargé du programme F-35 au Pentagone
19 septembre 2012 – 17:38
Nouveau responsable du programme F-35 au Pentagone, le major-général Christopher Bogdan n’a pas mâché ses mots pour qualifier sa relation entre ses services et le constructeur Lockheed-Martin, qui développe cet avion appelé à devenir l’épine dorsale des forces aériennes américaines.

“C’est la pire que j’aie jamais vu” a-t-il affirmé le 17 septembre, devant une centaine de membres de l’Air Force Association, à National Harbor (Maryland). “L’on ne doit pas prendre 10, 11 ou 12 mois pour négocier un contrat avec quelqu’un avec qui nous sommes en affaire depuis 11 ans” a-t-il déploré pour illustrer son propos, en prenant l’exemple des négociations en cours sur le 5e lot de production de l’appareil.

“Aujourd’hui, je vais gérer ce programme comme s’il n’y avait pas plus de temps et plus d’argent” a-t-il affirmé. Et la façon dont sont traitées les affaires avec Lockheed-Martin doivent “fondamentalement changer” a-t-il ajouté.

Pour le major-général Bogdan, le programme F-35, le plus important actuellement pour le Pentagone, présente actuellement deux problèmes majeurs. Le premier concerne le casque qui fait partie intégrante du système d’armes de l’appareil.

“Vous ne pouvez pas aller à la guerre et combattre avec cet avion sans ce casque” a affirmé l’officier. Or, a-t-il poursuivi, “aujourd’hui, nous avons un casque qui fonctionne d’une manière rudimentaire” a-t-il encore poursuivi.

En cours de developpement chez Vision Systems International, un joint-venture détenu par Elbit Imaging et Rockwell Collins, cet equipement doit permettre au pilote de voir sur sa visière toutes les données relatives au vol de son avion, obtenues grâce à des capteurs disséminés dans l’avion.

Mais, le 7 septembre dernier, le Pentagone a été contraint de reporter une série de tests opérationnels avec ce casque en raison de retards pris pour sa mise au point. Et, a priori, cela semble sérieux car Lockheed-Martin a annoncé avoir contacté BAE Systems pour trouver une solution de rechange dans le cas où VSI ne respecterait pas les délais imposés. “Nous sommes en train d’évaluer la rapidité avec laquelle on peut obtenir le casque de rechange” a précisé le major-général Bogdan.

L’autre sujet d’inquiétude dont le major-général Bogdan a fait part concerne le logiciel ALIS (Autonomic Logistics Information System) qui compte 10 millions de lignes de code et sans lequel le F-35 serait aussi utile qu’une valise sans poignée. Or, là-aussi, le développement de la version “Block 3″, sans laquelle les avions ne pourront pas être déclarés opérationnels, a pris du retard alors que la complexité augmente. “Le logiciel est un risque énorme” a déclaré le responsable.

Lancé en octobre 2001 avec l’idée de produire un avion à un prix raisonnable compte tenu du nombre d’exemplaires commandés (2.443 rien que pour les Etats-Unis), le programme F-35 Lightning II est devenu le plus cher de l’histoire de l’aéronautique. En avril 2012, le Pentagone a évalué son coût global (développement, assemblage, exploitation, maintien en condition opérationnelle et modernisation) à 1550 milliards de dollars sur une période de 50 ans, dont 396 milliards de dollars rien que pour la mise au point.

http://www.opex360.fr/

Citation :

9/20/2012 - An F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter from the 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and an F-22A Raptor from the 325th Fighter Wing at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., soar over the Emerald Coast Sept. 19. This was the first time the two fifth generation fighters have flown together for the Air Force.

(U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jeremy T. Lock)

Citation :

Lockheed Martin's direct attack guided rocket (DAGR) has successfully demonstrated its ground launch capabilities during two separate guided flight tests at Eglin Air Force Base (AFB) in Florida, US.

In each test, an inert DAGR missile flew 3.5km and successfully intercepted a laser designated stationary target within 1ft of the aim-point, following its launch from a prototype pedestal launcher.

The launching device was equipped with four M299 launcher rails and associated cables and electronic systems to provide full compatibility with Hellfire II and DAGR missiles.
Targets were illuminated due to lock-on-before-launch (LOBL) targeting mode of the missile.

Ken Musculus, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control business air-to-ground missile system programmes director, said the flight tests had confirmed that the missile possesses similar accuracy in both ground-based and airborne missions.

"The tests also verified the missile's ability to acquire targets prior to launch, a capability that currently-fielded 2.75in guided rockets cannot deliver," Musculus added.

DAGR is semi-active laser guidance kit, developed as a precision-strike, air-to-ground weapon for destruction of non-armoured or lightly armoured, high-value targets present close to civilian assets or friendly forces with minimum collateral damage.

Offering target handoff, enhanced built-in test, and laser coding from the cockpit, the rocket enables the pilots to efficiently pursue offset targets.

DAGR uses the M299 smart launcher to increase operational flexibility and cost-effective multi-mission capabilities from a single platform.

More than 30 test flights of the missile ranging from 1km to 5.1km have been completed to date, from various Hellfire-equipped rotary-wing platforms, including AH-64D Apache, AH-6 Little Bird and OH-58 Kiowa Warrior helicopters.
http://www.army-technology.com/news/newslockheed-conducts-dagr-missiles-guided-flight

Citation :

A C-130 Aircraft was pushed underneath another at the 166 Airlift Wing, Del. Air National Guard, New Castle, Delaware due to a tornado on Semptember 28th. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Melissa E.Chatham)(Released) 166 AW Del. ANG

Citation :

US Air Force changes acquisitions strategy for F-16 radar modernization

The US Air Force is changing its acquisitions strategy for the F-16 Radar Modernization Program, which it is running as part of its F-16 Combat Avionics Programmed Extension Suite (CAPES) effort to modernize the venerable single-engine fighter.

"The USAF is contracting with Lockheed Martin to develop an AESA [active electronically scanned array] fire control radar as a CFE (Contractor Furnished Equipment) item for the F-16 platform," says Dawn Sutton, deputy director of the USAF's F-16 System Program Office (SPO). "We defer to Lockheed Martin as to their plans on how to most appropriately meet the subject requirement. However, it's our expectation that Lockheed Martin will conduct a source selection to choose a radar vendor to meet the Air Force requirements."

USAF

Under the previous USAF strategy, the US government would supply the CAPES prime integrator, original F-16 manufacturer Lockheed Martin, with an AESA radar as government furnished equipment. "The requirements are coming out of the air force," says Bill McHenry, Lockheed's F-16 business development director. "So the air force hands us the operational requirements and we collect all the data." Lockheed would then pick the radar most suitable for the CAPES project, McHenry says.

There are two competing AESA radars that are on the market. One is Northrop Grumman's Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR), which is based on technology developed from the APG-77, APG-80 and APG-81 found respectively on the Lockheed F-22 Raptor, F-16E/F Block 60, and F-35. The other is the Raytheon Advanced Combat Radar (RACR), which is based on the APG-63 (V) 3, APG-79 and APG-82 found on the Boeing F-15C, F/A-18E/F, and F-15E respectively.

Lockheed has already had a preliminary look at early versions of both radars in its systems integration labs and both systems have flown on the F-16, McHenry says. At first glance, both radars meet the USAF's requirements. McHenry cannot specifically say when there will be a competition because the decision to change the acquisitions strategy is so new.

"We've just now gotten the go ahead that we're the CFE guys, up until this came out the decision was the radar was going to be government furnished equipment," he says. "So this pre-solicitation notice is a milestone that changes direction."

The USAF requires 24 upgraded F-16s be declared operational no later than the fourth quarter of calendar year 2018, which means a competition will have to happen soon. It will take two to three years to fully develop either AESA to production standards "We need to go out, get the selection, and move out very quickly in order to meet the timeline requirements identified by the US Air Force and Taiwan," McHenry says.

The USAF hopes to modernize 300 F-16s with new radars, center cockpit displays, enhanced electronic warfare systems, data-links and cockpit avionics integration. The radar is the centerpiece of the CAPES upgrade, but USAF has indicated that it also wants to more tightly integrate the jet's avionics. "This is not going to be an easy task, an AESA is the heart and soul of a fighter airplane," McHenry says. "It is a hugely technical challenge."

But the USAF also needs to extend the aircraft's structural life. Lockheed is about to start testing to determine just how much life is left on the F-16 airframe. A test airframe has already been installed on a testing jig and a readiness review was completed on 11 October, McHenry says. Tests should begin by the end of the year.

The modernized USAF and Taiwanese F-16 form a new "baseline" for the Fighting Falcon-also known as the Viper, McHenry says. He notes that South Korea, which picked BAE Systems to modernize its fleet of F-16s, will not benefit from common configurations or shared logistics with the rest of the Viper fleet around the world. As the original manufacturer of the F-16, Lockheed is in the best position to upgrade the jets, he says.

Altogether, McHenry says that Lockheed expects to sell about 550 upgrade kits for the F-16-including USAF and Taiwanese orders. The company also hopes to secure contracts to build 100 new F-16s around the world.

.flightglobal.com

Citation :

HiRes




Major Dusty, 9th Attack Squadron MQ-9 Reaper pilot, and TSgt Trevis, 49th Operations Group MQ-9 sensor operator (last names omitted due to operational security concerns) fly an MQ-9 Reaper from a ground control station on Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., Oct. 3. The Reaper is a multi-functional aircraft that supports both reconnaissance and combat roles. Holloman trains all Air Force MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper pilots. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Michael Shoemaker/Released)

Citation :

Boeing will begin production this week on the refueling boom for the KC-46, the company’s next-generation tanker. Production of the boom marks the first movement out of the design phase and into actual construction for the plane.

“It’s a big day for the KC-46 tanker program and the U.S. Air Force,” Maj. Gen. John Thompson, KC-46 program director, said in a statement. “Boeing continues to make good progress toward delivering the KC-46 Tanker on schedule.”

Maureen Dougherty, KC-46 vice president and program manager for Boeing, added that the KC-46’s boom is capable of refueling “any fixed-wing receiver aircraft anytime and on any mission.”

Boeing plans to deliver 18 of the aircraft by 2017, replacing part of the aging KC-135 Stratotanker fleet. Construction will begin in earnest next summer at Boeing’s facility in Everett, Wash.

Development of the KC-46 is a top priority for Air Force brass. In his first major comments after being named the Air Force chief of staff, Gen. Mark Welsh listed the new tanker as one of three critical systems, alongside the F-35 and a new long-range bomber.

In September, Thompson warned that the Air Force’s contract with Boeing might be canceled if Congress fails to stop the sequestration cuts scheduled for January.

http://www.defensenews.com/article/20121016/DEFREG02/310160006/KC-46-Boom-Production-Marks-First-Construction-Tanker?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

Citation :

Lockheed Martin Receives $34 Million Contract for Paveway II Plus Laser Guided Bomb Kits

ARCHBALD, Pa. | Lockheed Martin received a $34.1 million contract from the U.S. Air Force for follow-on production of paveway II Plus Laser Guided Bomb (LGB) GBU-10, GBU-12 and GBU-16 guidance kits.

With this contract, Lockheed Martin received the majority share of a $56 million paveway II Plus LGB procurement. Production is expected to begin in early 2014. The contract is part of an overall $475 million five-year, firm-fixed-price, multiple-award contract announced by the U.S. Air Force in August 2011. Lockheed Martin was qualified as a paveway supplier in 2001.

"The Lockheed Martin paveway II Plus LGB guidance kits significantly improve weapon accuracy and reduce risk to U.S. and allied ground forces when employed in place of legacy paveway II weapons," said Joe Serra, senior manager for precision guided systems in Lockheed Martin's Missiles and Fire Control business.

Under the contract, Lockheed Martin will build and deliver paveway II Plus LGB kits, consisting of MAU-209C/B computer control groups that contain the electronic guidance system and the associated air foil groups that provide lift and stability to the weapons, in standard GBU-10 MK-84 (2,000 lb.), GBU-12 MK-82 (500 lb.), GBU-16 MK-83 (1,000 lb.) series configurations. All work will be performed at Lockheed Martin's facility in Archbald, Pa.

Lockheed Martin is a qualified provider of all three variants of paveway II MK-80 series LGBs, and is the sole provider of the paveway II Enhanced Laser Guided Training Round and Dual Mode Laser Guided Bomb. Lockheed Martin has delivered more than 65,000 LGB kits to the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy and international customers. Laser guided bombs have been used successfully in overseas military operations.

defpro

Citation :

F-35A completes first in-flight JDAM release

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFNS) -- An F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) aircraft completed the first in-flight weapons release of a 2,000 pound GBU-31 BLU-109 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) from a 5th Generation fighter, Oct. 16.

The flight was conducted by U.S. Air Force Maj. Eric "Doc" Schultz. The aircraft, known as AF-1, jettisoned an instrumented GBU-31 over the China Lake test range from the left internal weapons bay.

The F-35A 5th Generation fighter is designed to carry a payload of up to 18,000 pounds using 10 weapon stations. The F-35A features four internal weapon stations located in two weapon bays to maximize stealth capability. The CTOL aircraft can also utilize an additional three external weapon stations per wing if required

www.af.mil/news

Citation :

U.S. Air Force Nears SDB Integration On F-16s

October 18, 2012
ST. CHARLES, Mo. — Boeing is hoping to boost sales of its Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) with the forthcoming milestone of integration of the 250-lb. glide bomb on the F-16.

The U.S. Air Force first integrated SDB onto the F-15E, and Boeing has since landed foreign military sales customers in Israel, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. A fifth customer, likely South Korea, is buying through a direct commercial sale, though Boeing declines to identify it.

An initial fielding recommendation for the F-16 and SDB is expected by the end of next month, according to officials at the Air Armament Center at Eglin AFB, Fla. This will take place as part of the M6.1+ operational flight profile release for the F-16 software. Air Force officials were unable by press time to say when initial operational capability with limited use of the SDB on specific hard points on the F-16 will be ready, or when full operational capability is expected.

The interim capability will allow for use on the F-16 Block 30/40/50 series, according to Kristin Robertson, SDB manager for Boeing.

Debbie Rub, vice president of Boeing’s missile and unmanned systems business, says that a full operational capability could be ready as soon as 2015 for domestic and international customers.

The Air Force’s buys of the baseline SDB end this year. The last of 12,300 SDBs and 2,000 BRU-61 carriage systems is slated for Lot 7.

Meanwhile, the company has delivered 600 SDBs and 50 BRU-61s to Israel, and the country signed a letter of request for an additional 400 bombs and 24 carriage units. Integration onto Israeli F-16s is expected to begin next year, according to weapons officials at Eglin.

The Netherlands expects delivery of its 595 SDBs and 24 carriage units by July 2013, including integration onto its F-16s.

Sweden is slated to take delivery of its order of 53 SDBs for integration onto the Gripen fighter in December 2013. Norway will be the last current foreign military sales customer to take delivery — 150 SDBs and 14 carriage units — in 2014. Norway also will employ the weapon on the F-16.

www.aviationweek.com

Citation :

Pentagon Contract Announcement


(Source: US Department of Defense; issued Oct. 19, 2012



Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Marietta, Ga., (FA8625-07-C-6471, P00166) is being awarded a $221,758,366 contract modification for the C-5 Reliability Enhancement and Re-engining Program (RERP) Aircraft Lot 5 Installation effort involving eleven aircraft.

The location of the performance is Marietta, Ga. Work is expected to be completed by Oct. 29, 2015.

The contracting activity is AFLCMC/WLSK, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/article-view/release/139520/lockheed-wins-%24222m-for-c_5-upgrade.html

Citation :

Northrop Grumman Delivers New BACN-Equipped Global Hawk to Air Force Ahead of Schedule




14:30 GMT, October 24, 2012 PALMDALE, Calif. | Northrop Grumman Corporation delivered a Global Hawk unmanned aircraft to the U.S. Air Force carrying the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) – expanding airborne communications and information sharing among military units in harsh environments.

Northrop Grumman produced and delivered the system four months ahead of schedule as part of an ongoing BACN development, operations and maintenance contract to support U.S. Central Command missions.

"By pairing BACN and Global Hawk, military commanders can provide the system's critical capabilities during a single flight lasting more than 30 hours," said George Guerra, Global Hawk unmanned air systems vice president with Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. "This is important when ground units operate in mountainous terrain where land-based communications systems don't function as well."

BACN bridges and extends voice communications and information sharing from numerous sources using a suite of computers and radio systems. It's also installed on two other EQ-4B Global Hawk aircraft and three E-11A Bombardier Global Express BD-700 aircraft.

"Our military counts on the enhanced combat effectiveness provided 24 hours a day, seven days a week by the BACN gateway capability. With another BACN system flying on Global Hawk, the team continues to provide unsurpassed communications capabilities at exceptional operational availability rates," said Claude Hashem, vice president of network communications systems business with Northrop Grumman Information Systems.

The aircraft was delivered Sept. 7 to Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., after a flight from the company's production facility in Palmdale, Calif.

The Air Force awarded Northrop Grumman a $47 million contract in December 2011 for the purchase and integration of two BACN payloads on two existing Global Hawk aircraft. The company also delivered the BACN-equipped Global Hawk in June 2012 early.

Northrop Grumman is the prime contractor for the development, fielding and maintenance of the BACN system and the EQ-4B Global Hawk aircraft. The company was awarded the first BACN contract in 2005 with the payload deployed for the first time in 2008. The company is also the prime contractor for the Air Force's Global Hawk program.

defpro

Citation :

The Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition announced today the posting of the Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH) Request for Proposal (RFP) to the Federal Business Opportunities website, signaling the official launch of this high priority Air Force acquisition program.

The RFP defines an integrated, capability-based, best-value approach. It also includes specific factors for assessing the capabilities and risks inherent in each offer and identifies four goal requirements: hover performance, combat radius, payload and cabin space.

The primary mission of the CRH air vehicle is to recover isolated personnel from hostile or denied territory; it will also execute humanitarian missions, civil search and rescue, disaster relief, casualty and medical evacuation, and non-combatant evacuation operations.

The program will replace the Air Force’s aging HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter fleet with new air vehicles, training systems, and product support elements as required for the personnel-recovery mission.

The CRH requirement is for 112 aircraft. The Air Force plans include leveraging in-production air vehicles and training systems while integrating existing technologies to deliver this new combat capability.

Prior to this announcement, officials from Air Combat Command, Department of the Air Force and Office of the Secretary of Defense participated in a rigorous acquisition review process for CRH. The review ensured the source-selection process is executable as written, reduces risk, and will deliver the warfighter a product that meets the requirement at an affordable price.



Read more: http://www.defencetalk.com/air-force-releases-rfp-for-next-search-and-rescue-helicopter-45281/#ixzz2AJflw9Fh

Citation :

U.S. Air Force Awards $365 Million Secondary Power Logistics Solution Contract




09:06 GMT, November 2, 2012 HILL AFB, Utah | Officials from the U.S. Air Force and Honeywell International Inc. signed a new eight-year, $365 million extension to the Secondary Power Logistics Solution contract to provide logistics and depot support for F-15 Eagle fighter aircraft.

This extension builds on Increment I of the SPLS contract, which provides support for the B-2 Spirit bomber and the C-130 Hercules transport aircraft.

SPLS is one of the Air Force's first examples of a Department of Defense initiative known as Performance Based Logistics contracting. Instead of contracting for individual parts and services, the government pays a fixed amount for a desired outcome based on mission needs, such as an availability rate.

"Increment II of the SPLS contract is an opportunity to exploit the great advantages of PBL demonstrated in Increment I, while also incorporating lessons learned to build an even more successful program," said. Col. Tim Henke, 448th Supply Chain Management Wing commander.

The SPLS Increment II contract is a joint effort between the Air Force Sustainment Center and Honeywell. Under the new contract, the vast majority of system maintenance will be performed by government employees at government facilities. This unique public-private partnership will preserve the government's repair capability while enhancing efficiency by implementing industry best practices.

defpro

Citation :

HiRes




An E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control system aircraft, 963rd Airborne Air Control Squadron, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., participates in a training sortie during the Green Flag-West 13-2 exercise Nov. 4, 2012. On average, all four military services, including the guard and reserve components, participate in two Green Flag exercises each year. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal)
HiRes




A B-1B Lancer, 28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., approaches a KC-135 Stratotanker, 350th Air Refueling Squadron, McConnell AFB, Kan., to be refueled during the Green Flag-West 13-2 exercise Nov. 4, 2012. A typical Green Flag exercise involves two multi-role fighter and/or bomber squadrons, unmanned aircraft, electronic warfare aircraft and aerial refueling aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal)



Two F-16 Fighting Falcons from the Alabama Air National Guard, approach a KC-135 Stratotanker, 350th Air Refueling Squadron, McConnell AFB, Kan., for refueling during the Green Flag-West 13-2 exercise Nov. 4, 2012. Green Flag-West exercises take place 10 times a year. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal)

Citation :

Hires




U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (Nov. 2, 2012) Lt. Cmdr. Patrick Salmon, top, assigned to the Wildcats of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 131, waits while an Air Force F-22 Raptor refuels with an Air Force KC-10A. VFA-103 is embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts and support missions for Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Greg Linderman/Released)

Citation :

A C-130J Hercules assigned to Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., performs an engine-running offload at Geronimo Landing Zone on Fort Polk, La., Oct 17, 2012. The aircraft provided resupply to a major Joint Readiness Training Center exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Parker Gyokeres)