Dec 08, 2004 15:15 UTCDefenseTech.org: Industry Bigs Team Up on Ray Guns
Much movement seems to be about to happen in the laser weapons field. Northrop Grumman’s Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL) is to be fit atop a new United Defense gas-electric vehicle. United Defense makes the Bradley Fighting Vehicle. The Pentagon hasn’t said it wants such a combination yet, although the THEL already has a few successful rocket shoot-downs under its belt. This may mark a turning point where electric lasers finally reach the energy threshold required to be useful as weapons – a figure commonly pegged at about 100 kilowatts.
Dec 08, 2004 14:59 UTCDaily Press (VA): Guard unit to join Langley in Raptor training
For the first time, a National Guard unit will train with a new major weapons system from its very beginnings. The Richmond, VA Air National Guard unit will join the 192nd Fighter Wing at Langley AFB to train on the F/A-22 Raptor, the Air Force’s newest stealth fighter. The integration of the Guard unit comes as part of a Future Total Force program that seeks to better train and organize units. A squadron is scheduled to be trained and ready to fight by this time next year. As the Air National Guard contemplates cutting more than a third of its 88 fighter wings, this grouping may save the Richmond unit, which has been in the air since just after World War II.
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Dec 08, 2004 14:59 UTCAFL: New light-weight weapon joins Balad arsenal
The Air Force deployed a new satellite-guided bomb designed to maximize precision striking abilities and minimize collateral damage. The relatively light 500-pound GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munition was first thrown into battle on October 4 by two F-16s against what U.S. intelligence reported was a meeting of al-Zarqawi terrorists. The military reported minimal collateral damage and disputed reports from Falluja doctors that there were women and children killed. The weapon was designed specifically for close-in support and urban combat.
Dec 08, 2004 14:59 UTCAP: ManTech Gets Navy Support Contract
ManTech International said today that the Navy awarded it a contract worth up to $23 million to provide warfare modeling and simulation for the Naval Air Warfare Center in Patuxent River, MD. The one-year initial deal may be extended as many as four additional years.
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