10/25/2013: Located on an Italian Air Force base used for logistics, the Italian government under the management of Alenia Aermacchi (AAeM) has built a 22 building facility to support the F-35 program. The support comes in three parts. First, there is a Final Check Out and Assembly facility, for assembling Italy’s…
The Scan Eagle has been used by U.S. and allied forces aboard ships as well as in operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is a very flexible asset, and requires a small crew to operate and can focus on a targeted area of interest. Its recovery system makes it ideal…
2013-10-15 By Robbin Laird and Ed Timperlake The USN is introducing new platforms and systems in the decade ahead. These platforms and systems will introduce change in the concepts of operations and re-shape the role which legacy platforms and systems can play in the future. At the heart of the…
2013-10-04 By Guy Martin Boeing has announced that it will end production of the C-17 Globemaster III strategic airlifter in 2015, leaving thirteen examples available for sale to future customers. If all thirteen unassigned aircraft are sold, additional production would only be entertained if financially viable. Boeing on September 18,…
2013-09-30 A key characteristic of core 21st century multi-mission systems is often their multi-national manufacturing character. This is centrally true for the new A400M, which has just been delivered to the French Air Force. [caption id="attachment_57693" align="alignnone" width="300"] Welcoming the A400M to the French Air Force, September 30, 2013. Credit: Airbus…
2013-09-23 By Ed Timperlake John Boyd in his lecture (which I sat through twice) had a sine qua non building block for his work: the F-86 versus Mig-15 exchange rate kills by his beloved F-86 in "MIG Ally. " The exchange rate was approximately 10 to 1. Lessons learned at…
2013-09-19 After his presentation to the leadership of the 33rd Fighter Wing, Secretary Wynne was asked to discuss the challenge of what is called concurrency. The answer by Wynne provided one of the best understandings of the reality of the approach taken in the modern aerospace industry. There would have concurrency…
2013-09-09 by Richard Weitz South Korea’s total military expenditure reached almost $31bn in 2011, making it the third largest defense spender in Asia and the 12th largest in the world. Since the end of the Korean War, the United States has been the largest supplier of defense systems to South…