Americas Lockheed Martin won a $153.4 million contract modification, which procures special tooling and special test equipment required to meet current and future F-35 Lightning II low-rate initial production as well as full-rate production rates. The modification...
The Wonders of Link 16 For Less: MIDS-LVTs
Link 16 Display (click to see situation) What one sees, all see. Jam-resistant Link-16 radios automatically exchange battlefield information - particularly locations of friendly and enemy aircraft, ships and ground forces - among themselves in a long-range,...
DoD Wants to Give Harriers Link 16 | Virginia Class Subs Beached on Pipes Concern | UK’s Type 26 Gets Foreign Interest
Americas * The Defense Department wants to upgrade US AV-8B Harriers with the Link 16 datalink system. The proposed $71.5 million, six-year upgrade is currently in the DoD's FY2016 budget request, but if designated for re-programming, Harriers could begin to receive...
Link 16 for Saudi E-3 AWACS
In for upgrades(click to view full) Link 16 is a secure, jam-resistant, digital data link transmitted via radio that allows military aircraft, ships and ground units to exchange their tactical pictures with each other in near real time. Link 16 also supports the...
Canadian CF-18s Finally Get Link 16, While H-92s Get Link 11
Link 16 Display(click to see situation) Data Link Solutions (DLS), a BAE Systems/ Rockwell Collins company, was selected by the Canadian Forces to provide Multi-Functional Information Distribution System (MIDS) Low Volume Terminals (LVT) as part of their Fleet...
AH-64E Apache Block III: Evolving Battlefield Roles
AH-64 in Afghanistan (click to view full) The AH-64 Apache will remain the US Army's primary armed helicopter for several more decades, thanks to the collapse of the RAH-66 Comanche program, and the retirement sans replacement of the US Army's Armed Reconnaissance...
P-8 Poseidon MMA: Long-Range Maritime Patrol, and More
P-8A Poseidon (click to view full) Maritime surveillance and patrol is becoming more and more important, but the USA's P-3 Orion turboprop fleet is falling apart. The P-7 Long Range Air ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare) Capable Aircraft program to create an improved P-3...
The C-130J: New Hercules & Old Bottlenecks
RAAF C-130J-30, flares (click to view full) The C-130 Hercules remains one of the longest-running aerospace manufacturing programs of all time. Since 1956, over 40 models and variants have served as the tactical airlift backbone for over 50 nations. The C-130J looks...
Aging Aircraft: USAF F-15 Fleet Sees Renewed Interest
F-15C over DC (click to view full) "Array of Aging American Aircraft Attracting Attention" discusses the issues that accompany an air force whose fighters have an average age of over 23.5 years - vs. an average of 8.5 years in 1967. One of the most obvious...
The MQ-4C Triton: Poseidon’s Unmanned Herald
BAMS Operation Concept (click to view full) The world's P-3 Orion fleets have served for a long time, and many are reaching the end of their lifespans. In the USA, and possibly beyond, the new P-8 Poseidon Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft will take up the P-3's role....