US Air Force - USAF

Sujet: US Air Force - USAF Mer 5 Mar 2014 - 11:56

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Citation :: USAF to issue contract to Sikorsky for rescue helicopter

The US Air Force's combat rescue helicopter programme is moving forward.

The service announces on 4 March that it intends to issue a contract by the end of June to Sikorsky for the 14-year, $7 billion programme, which calls for up to 112 aircraft.

Sikorsky, in partnership with Lockheed Martin, was the only company to bid on the project with its proposed CRH-60, a modified version of its UH-60M Black Hawk.

Rendering of Sikorsky's CRH-60 combat rescue helicopter. Sikorsky.

The USAF says it will move $430 million from other programmes to the CRH programme though fiscal year 2019 due to "the criticality" of the combat rescue mission.

The project also received an injection of more than $300 million in the fiscal year 2014 budget.

The service warns, however, that the programme may need to be "reevaluated" should additional defense budget cuts take effect in fiscal year 2016.

"The competitive price and the funding provided by Congress will allow us to award the CRH contract, but we could still face significant challenges to keeping this effort on track," says USAF secretary Deborah Lee James in a statement. "We will need to work with Congress throughout 2015 budget deliberations."

The CRH is intended to replace the USAF's aging HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue helicopters, which are also a Sikorsky product.

"Sikorsky and our teammate Lockheed Martin thank the USAF for enabling us to build a modern and affordable combat rescue helicopter that will replace the service’s rapidly aging HH-60G Pave Hawk fleet," says Sikorsky in a statement. "We look forward to working with the USAF to deliver CRH-60 aircraft in the prescribed timeframe."

http://www.flightglobal.com

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Citation :: Monday, 25 July 2016

Teledyne wins a $30mn contract from USAF for Aircrew Laser Eye Protection systems

Teledyne Technologies Incorporated announced today that its subsidiary, Teledyne Scientific & Imaging, LLC (TS&I), was awarded a $30.1 million contract by the United States Air Force to fabricate, test and deliver Aircrew Laser Eye Protection (ALEP) Block 2 spectacles.

http://worlddefencenews.blogspot.com/

Citation :: Q&A: Air Force Gen. Frank Gorenc on Shifting Europe Priorities
Valerie Insinna, Defense News 10:06 a.m. EDT July 25, 2016

WASHINGTON — When Gen. Frank Gorenc was named the head of US Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) in 2013, no one could have predicted that just a year later Russia would invade Ukrainian territory, sparking a sense of urgency among NATO countries to strengthen their alliance. Weeks from his retirement later this summer, Gorenc spoke to Defense News during the Royal International Air Tattoo on July 9 about US operations and training in Eastern Europe — an effort called the European Reassurance Initiative by the Obama administration — and the promise the F-35 joint strike fighter holds for US forces in the region.

Could I get your thoughts about how Europe has changed, from a military standpoint, over your tenure as USAFE commander?

I was here in 1984, my first time, and of course the Cold War was raging at that time. We still had substantial infrastructure. So I guess I'll answer that question both politically, and I guess I'll answer it militarily.

Obviously the biggest change I think for Europe, strategically, was we went from a Europe that was focused pretty much on collective defense. The Cold War ended and then there was that period where all of a sudden — not all of a sudden, but over time — NATO became focused on their second mission, crisis management, which the Balkans and Afghanistan kind of fit into. And then of course, President [Vladimir] Putin and [his invasion of] Crimea pulled the whole alliance back into a mindset of collective defense again. So politically, that's what I see as a commander, and I'm watching the alliance wrestle with that.

Militarily, I see a US presence that's 75 percent smaller than it was during the Cold War. I see the transition of NATO, particularly with training in NATO airspace, become restricted because of noise concerns and those kinds of things. And the other thing I see is much like us, with respect to a 75 percent smaller presence, the focus of European countries [has] become much less on defense and more on domestic policies and social programs and those kinds of things.

Do you think the US and its allies are well-positioned right now to deal with the Russian threat?

I guess the answer is, to do what? I'd have to know exactly what that means, but the bottom line is I do think we're positioned properly. One of the other changes in our military is, even though I'm 75 percent smaller with permanently assigned force, I have complete access to the entire United States Air Force through the organizational change of going from an in-garrison force to an expeditionary force, one that's able to shift resources based on the prioritization of our country and our treaty alliances in order to provide assurance and deterrence worldwide.

So with respect to my particular access to air capability, I'm comfortable. With respect to the alliance, as you know the [NATO] Wales summit [in 2014] was an affirmation that most of the allies believe that NATO was not responsive or ready enough, so they set up on a readiness action plan that we're working on even today with respect to how we gain a force that can assure our allies and deter any potential adversary. That’s an ongoing process.

http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/air-space/air-force/2016/07/25/interview-air-force-gen-frank-gorenc-usafe-europe-f35-eri/87445774/

Citation :: ViaSat to provide USAF 89th Airlift Wing fleet with in-flight internet service

The United States Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) awarded ViaSat Inc., a global broadband services and technology company, a non-competitive, firm-fixed-price contract to provide senior leaders and their support staff with global in-flight broadband and communications services. The award covers support for VC-25s, C-17s, C-32s, C-37s, C-40s and the complete range of VIP and special air mission aircraft.

http://worlddefencenews.blogspot.com/

Citation :: 26 juil. 2016 | Par Guillaume Belan
USAF : Les F-16 tirent des roquettes guidées laser en Irak

L'US Air Force qui a acquis des roquettes guidées laser Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) auprès de BAe Systems en procédure d'urgence opérationnelle, les utilise dorénavant en Irak. Ces roquettes ont été commandées à la fois pour les F-16 et les A-10. C'est la première fois que l'USAF utilise au combat ces armements de précision à bas coût depuis une voilure fixe.

La France de son côté vient de commander à TDA des roquettes de 68 mm à précision métrique (RPM). S'il n'est toujours pas question de les disposer sur un avion de chasse, ces roquettes à induction guidée laser (RIGL) équiperont le standard Mark 2 de l'hélicoptère Tigre HAD à l'horizon 2020, en complément de roquettes non guidées pour le tir de saturation et de missiles Hellfire contre des cibles très durcies.

http://www.air-cosmos.com/usaf-les-f-16-tirent-des-roquettes-guidees-laser-en-irak-80133

Citation :: Tuesday, 26 July 2016
Lockheed-KAI' second T-50A jet trainer completed initial test flight

Lockheed Martin and Korea Aerospace Industries successfully completed the initial test flight of its second T-50A configured aircraft in Sacheon, South Korea. The T-50A is the company’s aircraft offering in the U.S. Air Force’s Advanced Pilot Training (APT) competition.

http://worlddefencenews.blogspot.com/

Citation :: Air Force Boss Wary of Proposal for New Close-Air Support Jets
Valerie Insinna, Defense News 4:36 p.m. EDT July 26, 2016

WASHINGTON — While some Air Force officials have begun thinking about replacing the A-10 Warthog, including a new proposal that would involve buying two aircraft types, the service's top civilian leader on Tuesday questioned the affordability of such an endeavor.

During a Defense One event Tuesday morning, Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James said she had not been briefed on any potential options or an acquisition strategy related to a new close air support (CAS) aircraft, dubbed A-X. One of the options the service is perusing is the purchase of two CAS aircraft meant to augment and eventually replace the A-10.

"So far I have read about this in the news. I have not actually seen a proposal on any of this that has come forward to me. So it sure is pre-decisional. It hasn't been decided on,” she said. “Where would we get the money? Not at all clear to me.”

http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/air-space/air-force/2016/07/26/deborah-lee-james-air-force-secretary-budget-a10-warthog-ax/87578930/

Citation :: F-15 of United States Air Force made an emergency landing at Komatsu Airbase
Jul 27, 2016

The aircraft, belonging to 18th Wing, Kadena Airbase (DNA/RODN), suffered a hydraulic problem while a training over the Sea of Japan, and made an emergency landing at Komatsu Airbase / Airport. That reported by aviation-safety.net.

The F-15 stopped on the runway, and the runway was closed for a half hour before the plane towed away, causing two commercial flights to be delayed for 35 minutes maximum. No injuries were reported. USAF and Japan Air Self-Defence Force have been performing a combined exercise from the day before.

On the day of the incident, Four F-15’s of United States Air Force (USAF) and four F-15’s of Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) were maneuvering in the training area over the Sea of Japan from 8 A.M.

http://defence-blog.com/news/f-15-of-united-states-air-force-made-an-emergency-landing-at-komatsu-airbase.html

Citation :: Thursday, 28 July 2016

USAF F-15 unit complete flight tests with new ADCP II computer operating system

USAF Eglin's Operational Flight Program Combined Test Force completed a historic test mission here July 8 on an aircraft system that will enhance the life and lethality of the F-15, the Egline public affaires team announced on the airbase website.

http://worlddefencenews.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2016-07-28T02:44:00-07:00&max-results=10

Citation :: First Operational F-35A Squadron Finishes IOC To-Do List
Valerie Insinna, Defense News 8:40 p.m. EDT July 27, 2016

WASHINGTON — The Air Force’s first F-35 squadron has completed all preparations necessary to declare the joint strike fighter combat capable, and sources say an initial operating capability declaration could be made early next week.

Twelve jets have received the modifications necessary for IOC, 21 combat-mission-ready pilots are available, and the maintenance infrastructure is ready to support the Hill Air Force Base’s 34th Fighter Squadron, said some of those operators on July 27. With paperwork filed, all that’s left is for Air Combat Command head Gen. Herbert “Hawk” Carlisle to sign off.

“We have achieved all our milestones,” said Lt. Col. Steven Anderson, deputy commander of the 388th Maintenance Group. Anderson, along with several other maintainers and pilots from Hill Air Force Base, spoke to reporters over a conference call. "We have submitted all of the data to ACC for General Carlisle's consideration on making that declaration."

http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/air-space/air-force/2016/07/27/first-operational-f-35a-squadron-ioc-hill-air-force/87640282/

Citation :: US Monitoring Plane Makes Emergency Landing in Russia
Aaron Mehta, Defense News 5:30 p.m. EDT July 28, 2016

WASHINGTON — A US surveillance plane was forced to make an emergency landing in Russia Wednesday, following an issue with the landing gear.

Pentagon spokeswoman Lt. Col. Michele Baldanza told Defense News that the plane initially took off from a Russian airfield in Ulan Ude to begin an observation flight, but discovered the landing gear would not fully retract.

"The crew, in cooperation with the Russian escort crew on-board, terminated the treaty observation mission and diverted to Khabarovsk to drop off the escort crew and to exit Russia using the most direct route possible to facilitate inspection and repair at a US base in Japan," Baldanza said. "Khabarovsk is a frequently utilized Open Skies Airfield, designated by Russia for treaty purposes, but it is not normally a 'point of exit' for treaty missions."

http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/air-space/2016/07/28/dod-monitoring-plane-makes-emergency-landing-russia/87669188/

Citation :: Ruling on $80 Billion Bomber to Be Declassified, Air Force Says (excerpt)
(Source: Bloomberg News; published July 27, 2016)
By Anthony Capaccio
A declassified version of a ruling that upheld Northrop Grumman Corp.’s victory in a competition to build the next U.S. bomber, a project valued at as much as $80 billion, could be completed by the end of September, the Air Force said.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office backed the selection Feb. 16 in a 55-page decision, rejecting a challenge from the competing bidder, a team of Lockheed Martin Corp. and Boeing Co. But the GAO’s findings haven’t been made public in keeping with the largely classified nature of plans to produce the military’s first new bomber since the Cold War and one of the biggest U.S. weapons systems of the next decade.

The GAO hasn’t yet received a redacted version that removes paragraphs and pages that the Air Force deems classified and the contractors contend are business-sensitive. Northrop, shut out of prime contracts for U.S. warplanes since the B-2 bomber in the 1980s, was chosen by the Air Force in October.

“We have checked back with the Air Force regularly to see if they have a non-classified copy we can publicly post, but so far they have not provided one,” GAO spokesman Chuck Young said in an e-mail.

Lieutenant General Arnold Bunch, the Air Force’s top uniformed acquisition official, said in an interview that “we’re actively engaged with the GAO” and “we’re working it pretty hard right now” so “I don’t think you’ll have to wait a whole lot longer.”

Declassifying the GAO’s decision would be a major step toward improving transparency and public understanding of how the Air Force made its selection. Service officials contend they’ve released more information about the new B-21 bomber than at the comparable periods for its predecessor, the B-2. Still, the service has refused to disclose the value of Northrop’s contract, including how much money has been set aside for bonus fees. (end of excerpt)

Citation :: U.S. Air Force releases an official request for a new ICBM InterContinental Ballistic Missile.
The U.S. Air Force releases on Friday, July 29, 2016, an RFP (Request For Proposals) to replace the LGM-30 Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile and the nuclear cruise missile as the military moves ahead with a costly modernization of its aging atomic weapons systems.

http://worlddefencenews.blogspot.com/2016/07/us-air-force-releases-official-request.html?m=1

Les F 35A sont prêts au combat :

Citation :: Breaking News: Air Force declares the F-35A ‘combat ready’

The F-35A Lightning II fifth generation fighter aircraft was declared ‘combat ready’ today by Gen. Hawk Carlisle, the commander of Air Combat Command. Carlisle lauded the aircraft’s performance, noting that the aircraft had met all key criteria for reaching initial operational capability. Airmen trained, manned and equipped to conduct basic close air support, interdiction, and limited suppression/destruction of enemy air defenses in a contested environment with an operational squadron of 12-24 aircraft, the ability to deploy and conduct operational missions using program of record weapons and missions systems and having all necessary logistics and operational elements in place.

“I am proud to announce this powerful new weapons system has achieved initial combat capability,” Carlisle said. “The F-35A will be the most dominant aircraft in our inventory, because it can go where our legacy aircraft cannot and provide the capabilities our commanders need on the modern battlefield.” The F-35A is the latest addition to ACC’s fleet of deployable and fifth generation aircraft. It provides air superiority, interdiction, suppression of enemy air defenses and close air support as well as great command and control functions through fused sensors, and will provide pilots with unprecedented situational awareness of the battlespace that will be more extensive than any single-seat platform in existence.

“Bringing the F-35A to initial combat readiness is a testament to our phenomenal Airmen and the outstanding support of the Joint Program Office and our enterprise partners. This important milestone for our fighter force ensures the United States, along with our allies and international partners, remains prepared to deter, deny, and defeat the full spectrum of growing threats around the globe," added Deborah Lee James, Secretary of the Air Force.

Gen. David Goldfein, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, said that dynamic new capability will benefit the joint warfighter. "The combat ready F-35A is the latest fifth generation fighter aircraft in the Air Force's inventory and provides our nation air dominance in any environment. The F-35A brings an unprecedented combination of lethality, survivability, and adaptability to joint and combined operations, and is ready to deploy and strike well-defended targets anywhere on Earth," Goldfein said. "Today's declaration of IOC is an important milestone on the road to achieving full warfighting capability for the F-35A.”

The 34th Fighter Squadron of the 388th Fighter Wing, based at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the service’s first operational F-35A squadron, having met all the established criteria for Initial Operational Capability including a successful June deployment to Mountain Home AFB, Idaho and a series of eight-aircraft sorties held in mid-July. 34th FS Airmen will fly and maintain the F-35A alongside Air Force Reservists from Hill’s 419th Fighter Wing.

"Our Airmen have worked tirelessly to make sure our aircraft are combat ready: meeting challenges head-on and completing all the required milestones," said Col. David Lyons, 388th Fighter Wing commander. "We're very proud that the Air Force has declared us combat ready and we're prepared to take this aircraft wherever it's needed in support of our national defense." Those sentiments were echoed by Col. David Smith, 419 FW commander. “It's an honor to fly and maintain the F-35 with our active duty counterparts here at Hill,” Smith said. “Our units were the first to fly combat-ready F-16s nearly 40 years ago and we're very proud to have made history once again in bringing the Air Force's newest fighter jet to IOC.”
http://www.acc.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/5725/Article/882951/breaking-news-air-force-declares-the-f-35a-combat-ready.aspx

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Citation :: US F/A-18C Hornet crashed in Northern Nevada
Aug 3, 2016

A Navy pilot has safely ejected from a fighter jet that crashed in the Northern Nevada desert during a training mission near the Fallon Naval Air Station. That reported by www.reviewjournal.com.

Air station spokesman Joseph Vincent confirmed the F/A-18C Hornet crashed around 10:45 a.m. Tuesday about 10 miles southeast of the naval base in Fallon, about 60 miles east of Reno.

Vincent said the pilot was returning to the base from a routine training mission when he was forced to eject from the aircraft.

Ground crews picked him up.

This is the second loss of a Hornet for VMFA-232. A Marine pilot from the unit was killed when his aircraft crashed in California on Jul. 28.

http://defence-blog.com/news/us-fa-18c-hornet-crashed-in-northern-nevada.html

Citation :: Thursday, 4 August 2016
Textron AirLand and USAF sign CRADA to test Scorpion jet airworthiness

A Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) has been signed between the Air Force and Textron AirLand, LLC, a Textron Inc. company of Wichita, Kansas, the press office of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base stated on August 2, 2016.

http://worlddefencenews.blogspot.com/

Citation :: Air Force To Make A-10 Replacement Recommendations as Early As Fall
Valerie Insinna, Defense News 8:11 p.m. EDT August 4, 2016

WASHINGTON — The US Air Force is deliberating if and how to replace its close-air support workhorse, the A-10, and may have a better picture of their path forward later this year, the service’s top civilian said Wednesday.

During an interview with Defense News, Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James said she and other top service leaders — such as Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein — will be briefed on various options for replacing or augmenting the A-10 Warthog this fall, as the service begins to build its next five-year budget plan.

“Any of these types of possibilities would likely come up in the fall to me and the chief during this planning choices forum. And that's when we would discuss and we could make some recommendations,” which could then flow into the budget cycle, she said.

Air Force officials recently briefed a group of analysts and aerospace experts on a proposed plan that would involve buying two close-air support (CAS) aircraft. In the near term, the service would procure an existing light-attack aircraft to augment the A-10 during CAS missions in permissive environments. This OA-X would likely be an existing aircraft with a low flight-hour cost, such as the Beechcraft AT-6 or Embraer A-29 Super Tucano. Further down the road, the Air Force would purchase an A-X2 — which could be an existing or new design — that would replace the A-10. That jet would operate in slightly more sophisticated, medium-threat environments.

However, James stressed that other options, such as re-winging the A-10 or buying a single aircraft to replace the Warthog, were still on the table.

http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/air-space/2016/08/04/air-force-a-10-close-air-support-fall-recommendations/88179822/

Citation :: Air Force Boss: Faster F-35 Buy Rate Might Not Be Possible
Valerie Insinna, Defense News 3:57 p.m. EDT August 5, 2016

WASHINGTON — The head of Air Combat Command wants to see the US Air Force build up its inventory of F-35s quicker than planned, but its civilian head signaled Wednesday that it might not be feasible in the current fiscal climate.

Speaking to the press on Tuesday, Gen. Herbert “Hawk” Carlisle said he was concerned about the service’s current F-35 buy rate, which hovers in the 40s until fiscal year 2021 when that number jumps up to 60. Carlisle stated he would like the Air Force to buy at least 60 aircraft per year in the near term to replace legacy aircraft that is aging out.

But in an interview with Defense News and sister publication Air Force Times, Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James said boosting the number of active duty Airmen is currently a bigger priority than ramping up the F-35 buy.

"It's all a matter of money. I would love to increase the buy also, but I don't see that as more urgent than staying the course to increase our end strength, for example,” she said in an interview Wednesday. “Increasing that end strength is the top thing. We think it's the top thing for all of our senior leaders.”

http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/air-space/air-force/2016/08/05/f35-buy-rate-air-force-budget-secretary-air-combat-commander/88306140/

Citation :: Friday, 5 August 2016
USAF's EC-130H Compass Call EW aircraft receives avionic upgrade

Since it became operational, the USAF's EC-130H Compass Call has demonstrated its electronic combat power in tactical air operations around the world, and this year the aircraft has achieved another first. The aircraft has received an avionic viability program upgrade to make it more effective in combat and while maintaining compliance with federal and international aviation regulations, the USAF announced on August 2.

http://worlddefencenews.blogspot.com/

Citation :: DCS to provide USAF with KC-46A missions planning software
DCS announced on August 5 that the company was awarded an Engineering Change Proposal (ECP) for KC-46A Mission Planning under the Mobility Air Forces (MAF) Delivery Order on the U.S. Air Force’s Mission Planning Enterprise Contract (MPEC) II.

http://worlddefencenews.blogspot.com/

Citation :: Tuesday, 9 August 2016
Northrop & USAF achieved first integration of 4th- and 5th-generation fighter jets

Northrop Grumman Corporation and the U.S. Air Force have achieved the first integration of fifth- and fourth-generation fighter aircraft – a critical capability to prevail in combat – during a live, virtual and constructive (LVC) training event, the US-based defense giant announced yesterday.

http://worlddefencenews.blogspot.com/

Citation :: USAF deploys three B-2 Spirit strategic bombers to Andersen AFB

Three B-2 Spirits have been deployed from Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, to Andersen AFB, Guam, in the U.S. Pacific Command area of operations Aug. 9. U.S. Strategic Command bombers regularly rotate through the Indo-Asia-Pacific region to conduct PACOM-led air operations, providing leaders with deterrent options to maintain regional stability.

http://worlddefencenews.blogspot.com/

Citation :: Wednesday, 10 August 2016
USAF's F-35A goes three-for-three in AIM-9X Block I missile firing tests

The U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy and Raytheon Company successfully test-fired three AIM-9X Block I missiles from an F-35A aircraft at airborne targets, resulting in direct hits. The weapon is the first short-range, air-to-air missile to be used on the F-35, the US-based defense contractor announced today August 10.

http://worlddefencenews.blogspot.com/

Citation :: Craintes pour la sûreté d'armes nucléaires américaines stockées en Turquie

AFP 15/08/2016

Des dizaines d'armes nucléaires américaines stockées sur la base aérienne d'Incirlik en Turquie, non loin de la frontière syrienne, risquent de tomber dans les mains de "terroristes ou d'autres forces hostiles", met en garde un rapport publié lundi.

La sûreté de cet arsenal situé à 110 km de la Syrie était décriée de longue date, mais le putsch avorté du 15 juillet en Turquie a relancé les craintes sur la protection de la cinquantaine d'armes nucléaires. "Il est impossible de savoir si les Etats-Unis auraient pu maintenir le contrôle sur les armes en cas de guerre civile prolongée en Turquie", s'inquiète dans son rapport le groupe de réflexion apolitique Stimson Center.

La base aérienne d'Incirlik représente un enjeu stratégique pour la coalition contre le groupe Etat islamique conduite par Washington, car elle offre un accès rapide aux cibles visées en Irak et en Syrie. Mais en mars, le Pentagone a ordonné, pour raisons de sécurité, l'évacuation des familles de militaires et du personnel civil stationnés dans le sud de la Turquie. Le commandant turc de la base a par ailleurs été arrêté, à l'instar de centaines de généraux, juges et procureurs accusés par Ankara d'avoir soutenu la tentative de coup d'Etat.

"D'un point de vue sécuritaire, stocker approximativement cinquante armes nucléaires américaines sur la base aérienne d'Incirlik revient à jouer à la roulette russe", s'est insurgé la co-auteure du rapport Laicie Heeley. "Il y a des garde-fous importants (...) mais ce ne sont que des dispositifs de protection, cela n'élimine pas le risque. Dans le cas d'un coup d'Etat, on ne peut pas dire avec certitude que nous aurions été capable de garder le contrôle", a-t-elle expliqué à l'AFP.

Les armes nucléaires seraient avant tout conservées sur la base turque comme un moyen de dissuasion face à la Russie, ainsi que pour démontrer l'engagement américain au sein de l'Otan, alliance militaire dont la Turquie est membre historique.

Le débat sur ces armes fait rage aux Etats-Unis depuis le putsch raté. "Bien que nous ayons évité la catastrophe jusqu'ici, nous avons de nombreuses preuves que la sécurité des armes américaines stockées en Turquie peut changer littéralement du jour au lendemain", s'est inquiété Steve Andreasen, ancien directeur de la défense et du contrôle des armes au Conseil de sécurité nationale de la Maison Blanche, dans les colonnes du Los Angeles Times.

Kori Schake, de l'institution Hoover, a relevé dans le New York Times que ces armes "ne peuvent pas être utilisées sans codes, les rendant impossible à activer sans autorisation". "Le fait que les armes nucléaires sont stationnées en Turquie ne les rend pas vulnérables (...), même si le pays (la Turquie, Ndlr) en venait à être hostile envers les Etats-Unis", a-t-elle tempéré.

Interrogé sur les conclusions du rapport du Stimson Center, le Pentagone a éludé. "Nous n'évoquons pas la localisation d'avoirs stratégiques", s'est bornée à répondre la Défense américaine, précisant avoir pris "les mesures appropriées" pour assurer la sécurité de son personnel et des ses "installations".

Les inquiétudes concernant Incirlik faisaient partie d'un chapitre plus large du rapport sur le programme de modernisation nucléaire du Pentagone, pour lequel Washington va débourser plusieurs milliards de dollars pour mettre à jour son arsenal.
Les auteurs y estiment notamment que les bombes atomiques B61 devraient être retirées d'Europe immédiatement.

http://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1001830/craintes-pour-la-surete-darmes-nucleaires-americaines-stockees-en-turquie.html

Citation :: 16/08/2016

Production à taux faible du KC-46 !

Washington, le Pentagone a autorisé l'US Air Force et Boeing au démarrage de la production à taux faible du nouveau ravitailleur KC-46A « Pegasus ». Frank Kendall, sous-secrétaire de la défense pour l'acquisition de la technologie et de la logistique, a approuvé le programme KC-46A le 12 août dernier. Cette décision permet la transition des prototypes destinés aux essais à la fabrication d’avions de série destinés à des escadrons opérationnels.

Cette décision arrive avec plusieurs mois de retard sur el calendrier initial après que Boeing a découvert des problèmes avec le système de perche de ravitaillement rigide. Ceux-ci sont maintenant définitivement résolus. L’avionneur américain devrait pouvoir livrer le premier des 18 KC-46A « Pagasus » prévus au début de l’année 2018. Pour l’instant l’US Air Force prévoit de commander progressivement un total de 179 « Pegasus » pour remplacer les actuels Boeing KC-135.

Le KC-46A «New Generation Tanker»:

Le KC-46A «New Gen Tanker» est un gros porteur multi-mission, basé sur la cellule du B767 commercial. Pour ce faire, l’avion reprend les dernières innovations en matières d’écrans multifonctions en test actuellement sur le B787 «Dreamliner». Un nouveau système de ravitaillement permettra une augmentation du rythme de transfert de carburant, de plus, les charges et les opérations en sont simplifiées. Selon Boeing les risques d’industrialisations sont faibles, car l’avion s’appuie sur des moyens existants. Le «New Gen Tanker» se caractérise par une conception du contrôle de vol qui place l‘équipage aux commandes de l’ensemble de l’appareil, au lieu de permettre aux logiciels de limiter la manœuvrabilité au combat. Le «New Gen Tanker» met à la disposition des pilotes de l’USAF un poste de pilotage numérique avancé équipé des affichages électroniques du Boeing B787 «Dreamliner». Le «New Gen Tanker» dispose d’une technologie de ravitaillement en vol éprouvée et d’une perche KC-10 « NewGen » modernisée avec des capacités de ravitaillement étendues, un débit accru pour le transfert du carburant et un système à commandes de vol électrique (Fly by Wire).

Photos : 1 KC-46A@ André Nordheim 2 En vol @ Boeing

http://psk.blog.24heures.ch/archive/2016/08/16/production-a-toux-faible-du-kc-46-861939.html

Citation :: Le drone MQ-9 Reaper peut aussi être utile à la défense antimissile

Posté dans Défense antimissile par Laurent Lagneau Le 17-08-2016

Le Pentagone a annoncé, le 16 août, une nouvelle commande de 30 drones MALE (Moyenne Altitude Longue Endurance) de type MQ-9 Reaper supplémentaires pour l’US Air Force. Le tout pour un montant de 371 millions de dollars. Ce type d’appareil est essentiellement utilisé pour des missions de surveillance et de renseignement ainsi que pour des frappes ciblées contre des objectifs de haute valeur.

Pour autant, le MQ-9 Reaper pourrait être utilisé à d’autres fins dans un avenir proche. Déjà, en mars 2015, lors d’un organisé dans le golfe du Mexique, cet appareil avait démontré sa capacité à détruire des cibles navales ainsi qu’à opérer en étroite relation avec d’autres avions de combat. Ce qui, à l’époque, était une première.

Mais le MQ-9 Reaper pourrait bientôt ajouter une autre corde à son arc. En effet, son constructeur, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI), a fait savoir que deux exemplaires de cet appareil avaient été engagés dans l’exercice Pacific Dragon, en juin, près du site de Kauai, à Hawaii, afin d’évaluer leur capacité à détecter et à suivre un missile balistique grâce à leurs capteurs (dont le Multi-spectral Targeting Systems-B de Raytheon).

« L’essai a fourni des données précieuses pour nos efforts continus visant à développer une capacité de défense antimissile aérienne efficace », a fait valoir Linden Blue, le Pdg de General Atomics.

Actuellement, il existe deux moyens pour détecter un missile balistique : le radar d’alerte avancée et les satellites, comme ceux du programme SBIRS (Space-Based InfraRed System). Aussi, la Missile Defense Agency (MDA) envisage de recourir à des drones étant donné que ces derniers sont plus économiques et plus souples d’emploi. D’où le test qu’elle a commandé à General Atomics.

Par ailleurs, le Japon a un projet similaire. En 2012, le quotidien Yomiuri Shimbun avait en effet révélé l’intention de Tokyo de développer un drone capable de détecter les lancements de missiles nord-coréens afin de les intercepter à un stade précoce.

http://www.opex360.com/2016/08/17/le-drone-mq-9-reaper-peut-aussi-etre-utile-la-defense-antimissile/

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