CH-53K concept (click to view full) The U.S. Marines have a problem. They rely on their CH-53E Super Stallion medium-heavy lift helicopters to move troops, vehicles, and supplies off of their ships. But the helicopters are wearing out. Fast. The pace demanded by the...
AIM-120C from F-22A (click for test missile zoom) Raytheon's AIM-120 Advanced, Medium-Range Air to Air Missile (AMRAAM) has become the world market leader for medium range air-to-air missiles, and is also beginning to make inroads within land-based defense systems. It...
A-10A over Germany (click to view full) The Precision Engagement modification is the largest single upgrade effort ever undertaken for the USA's unique A-10 "Warthog" close air support aircraft fleet. While existing A/OA-10 aircraft continue to outperform...
B-52H: flyin' low, dyin' slow... (click to view full) Officially, it's the B-52H Stratofortress. Unofficially, it's the BUFF (Big Ugly Fat F--cker). Either way, this subsonic heavy bomber remains the mainstay of the U.S. strategic fleet after more than 50 years of...
KC-135: Old as the hills... (click to view full) DID's FOCUS articles cover major weapons acquisition programs - and no program is more important to the USAF than its aerial tanker fleet renewal. In January 2007, the big question was whether there would be a...
E-6B TACAMO (click to view full) The USA's E-6 Mercury (aka. TACAMO, as in TAke Charge And Move Out) "survivable airborne communication system" airplanes support their Navy's SSBN ballistic missile submarine force and overall strategic forces. With the advent of the...
MQ-8B Fire Scout (click to view full) A helicopter UAV is very handy for naval ships, and for armies who can't always depend on runways. The USA's RQ/MQ-8 Fire Scout Unmanned Aerial Vehicle has blazed a trail of firsts in this area, but its history is best described...
The U.S. Navy has selected the US101 for a new fleet of “Marine One” helicopters for the President of the United States. Lockheed Martin leads Team US101… DID FOCUS Article.
Americas The US Air Force has announced a milestone for its MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The drone completed its first landing on a dirt landing strip, proving its enhanced operational capabilities and potential for future combat scenarios. The trial,...
(click to view full) In an exclusive June 2006 interview, Israeli Air Force (IAF) chief procurement officer Brigadier-General Ze'ev Snir told Israeli media that the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter was a key part of their IAF recapitalization plans, and that Israel intended...