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AFA 2019: US Air Force seeks to tailor airworthiness process for low cost attritable aircraft
The US Air Force believes it could save itself and contractors money by tailoring the airworthiness process for unmanned low-cost attritable aircraft such as the Kratos XQ-58A. As these types of aircraft do not have human pilots and are not designed to last for decades, the service could save money by certifying fewer items. Source: US Air ForceStingray unmanned tanker flies for first time
Boeing and the US Navy successfully completed the first test flight of the MQ-25 unmanned aerial refueller on 19 September. The MQ-25 test asset, known as T1, completed the autonomous two-hour flight under the direction of Boeing test pilots operating from a ground control station at MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in Mascoutah, Illinois, where the test programme is based. Source: BoeingSaudi military presents evidence of Iranian involvement in oil facility attacks
Col Maliki stands in front of the remnants of two of the three missiles that he said crashed before they reached Abqaiq. Source: Fayez Nureldine/AFP/Getty ImagesAFA 2019: US Air Force considering divesting B-1Bs in favour of B-21s, other bomber improvements
The Rockwell B-1B with its wings swept forward. The US Air Force’s top officer said this configuration, in addition to flying at slow speeds and medium altitude, has led to significant structural deficiencies with the platform. Source: IHS Markit/Patrick Allen
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Turkey’s Akinci armed UAV unveiled
Turkish private company Baykar Makina unveiled the Akinci ‘Flying Fish’ armed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) at the Teknofest Aerospace and Technology Festival being held in Istanbul from 17 to 22 September, the Anatolia news agency reported on 18 September. The Hürriyet newspaper
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Industry group head urges US Air Force to better engage with Future Vertical Lift
Key Points The head of an industry group suggests the US Air Force better engage with the Pentagon on its Future Vertical Lift programme The USAF wants to investigate the utility of electric VTOL aircraft, but the industry group chief believes this will not provide the necessary military utility
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North Macedonia trains Bulgarian, Polish military pilots
North Macedonia’s Pilot Training Center (PTC) will train almost 60 Polish and 30 Bulgarian military pilots over the coming weeks, Defence Minister Radmila Shekerinska announced during a visit to the facility on 13 September. The PTC was established to train military and police helicopter
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Czech SHORAD procurement delayed
The Czech Ministry of Defence (MoD) has delayed the Army of the Czech Republic’s (ACR’s) CZK10 billion (USD427 million) short-range air defence (SHORAD) system procurement. Deputy Defence Minister Filip Ríha told Jane’s recently that the contract would be concluded at the
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Boeing begins building first KC-46A for Japan
Boeing has begun building the first of two KC-46A Pegasus tanker-transport aircraft for Japan, the company announced on 17 September. The loading of a 25 m-long wing spar into the company’s 767 production facility at Everett in Washington state marked a major milestone for the
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Kingmakers: Venezuela’s armed forces and the national crisis
With Venezuela in a deep, complex, and increasingly urgent crisis since January, aggravated by external tensions with regional neighbours and the United States, the armed forces are likely to play a central role in the country’s future. Jim Dorschner reports -
Progressive HARM: An evolution in capability
The suppression and/or destruction of enemy air-defence systems is essential to sustaining US and allied anti access/area denial mission superiority. Robin Hughes explores the evolution of the AGM-88 High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile in advancing this capability -
Changing the guard: Canada transitions from Sea King to Cyclone
Canada's programme to replace its ageing Sea King maritime helicopters with the Cyclone has been a long and protracted one. Gareth Jennings explores the key issues and milestones to date
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UAE looking for more tank transporters
Belarus hopes to secure another contract to supply additional heavy equipment transporters to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to Roman Golovchenko, the chairman of the State Military Industrial Committee of Belarus. “We are about to finish a major contract [with the UAE], which was
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Prince of Wales sets sail for first time
The United Kingdom’s second Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier, Prince of Wales , put to sea for the first time from its assembly site at Rosyth Dockyard in Fife on 19 September. The 65,000-tonne carrier was manoeuvred out of the narrow lock entrance to the basin at the Babcock
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AFA 2019: US Air Force seeks to tailor airworthiness process for low cost attritable aircraft
The US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is interested in tailoring the airworthiness process for low cost attritable aircraft in the class of the Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in a way that could save the service and contractors money. Matt Duquette, AFRL Skyborg team
