Current Events in the Americas

Interesting site with a lot of details: http://jproc.ca/rrp/rrp3/cp140_electronics.html

From Air Force Times New gunship plan: 8 modified MC-130Ws By Sam LaGrone - Staff writer Posted : Tuesday Jun 2, 2009 16:28:08 EDT Special Operations Command plans to convert eight existing C-130 variants into multi-role gunships to support the wars in Iraq in Afghanistan. As part of the fiscal 2010 budget, the Defense Department has set aside $31.6 million to begin equipping eight MC-130Ws with limited gunship capability, according to budget documents. The additional firepower will buttress the two dozen aging AC-130H/U Spectre and Spooky gunships, Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and Air Force Secretary Michael Donley told members of Congress during a M…

From The Diplomat [excerpt]

Aerospace Daily & Defense Report February 10, 2006 SEALs-Friendly Submarine Returns To Navy Fleet The first of four converted U.S. submarines, specifically designed to help special forces perform covert missions, returned to the Navy's fleet for service on Feb. 7. The USS Ohio, converted by General Dynamics Corp.'s Electric Boat unit, is the first of four nuclear-powered ballistic missile subs (SSBNs) to be converted into cruise missile-laden, special forces-friendly SSGNs. The other three -- the USS Michigan, USS Florida and USS Georgia -- are slated to rejoin the fleet by 2007. Ohio was returned to service at a ceremony in Bangor, Wash. "Ohio's …

Course-changing missiles tested for LCS By Kris Osborn - Staff writer Posted : Thursday Dec 6, 2007 6:24:42 EST FORT BLISS, Texas — The Army has begun initial test firing of prototypes of a next-generation precision land missile that is able to be redirected toward new targets while in flight and can hit targets on-the-move up to about 24 miles (40 kilometers) away, Army officials said. The Non-Line-of-Sight Launch System (NLOS-LS), slated to field with other Army Future Combat Systems’ so-called spinout technologies by 2010, is designed with both GPS and infrared guidance systems. Tested at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., the NLOS-LS launcher carries 15 Pre…

From Defense Aerospace Lockheed Martin Delivers First C-5M Super Galaxy (Source: Lockheed Martin; issued December 9, 2008) MARIETTA, Ga. --- Lockheed Martin today delivered the first fully modernized C-5M Super Galaxy to the U.S. Air Force at Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, Robins AFB, Ga. The aircraft is the first of three developmental test C-5M aircraft to be delivered, with the other two to be delivered to Dover AFB, Del., in February 2009. All three aircraft successfully completed developmental testing in August 2008. Current Air Force plans call for Lockheed Martin to deliver 52 modernized C-5Ms. "The C-5 fleet is now beginning to realize its fu…

Source: Defense Budget - Priorities & Choices January 2012 (PDF is attached) Okay boys and girls, it looks like the final cuts to the US Defense budget have been made and it ain't pretty. Here's the mountain tops above 10,000ft version ... No Ford class CVN slip ... but the sub force won't get two VA class for a year. Marines won’t be happy with L class cuts/slips LCS and JHSV both got slammed pretty hard on the budget mat, with major program cuts. "To ensure sufficient resources to protect these strategic priorities, we will reduce the number of ships by slowing the pace of building new ships and by accelerating the retirement of some existing sh…

Norfolk Virginian-Pilot February 9, 2006 The Fight Over The New F-22 Raptor By Louis Hansen, The Virginian-Pilot HAMPTON — On a recent clear Sunday afternoon, Capt. John Echols took his fighter jet into the sky for another homeland security mission. The Air Force’s role in Operation Noble Eagle had grown routine since Sept. 11: Patrol the skies over East Coast cities and watch for planes drifting into restricted airspace. If a private pilot starts heading toward a potential target, the fighter pilots quickly introduce themselves and escort the intruder back on course. But Echols’ patrol this day was anything but routine. He and a wing mate flew o…

Not been seen since operation two weeks ago Very interesting... as in the old Chinese curse...

DDG 1000 Preps for Heavy Weather Trials (DOD Buzz) Fingers crossed ...

Pentagon's Global Strike Weapon Stuck In Limbo; Congress Fears Accidental WWIII (AOL Defense)

Improved Conventional Munitions Policy (CSBA) This is a big deal. In the world of Harpoon, some of you might have already noticed that cluster munitions (especially older style cluster munitions) tend to fade from sight in many US/NATO aircraft loadouts in the HCDB2 after around 2003.

Canada in wait to use its mine-clearing drones Canadian Press CTV HALIFAX — France and the United States will likely be the first countries to take full advantage of advanced minesweeping technology developed in Canada, even though it was first intended for Canadian navy ships, says a senior researcher. While a number of countries have shown interest in purchasing the high-tech gear, the Canadian navy will only get to test drive the Remote Minehunting System because of budget cuts and a cumbersome procurement process. In an deal signed last week, Ottawa said it will pay for operational tests of the system for only 20 days a year. The Canadian tests are exp…

From Navy Times January 11, 2007 Boone lost rudder at sea By William H. McMichael The rudder fell off a Mayport, Fla.-based frigate while it was on deployment in the western Mediterranean Sea in late November, the Atlantic Fleet Naval Surface Force confirmed Thursday. The Nov. 30 mishap forced the ship to send out a call for help, said Paul Taylor, a SurfLant spokesman. The Canadian destroyer HMCS Iroquois responded, providing divers who inspected the ship’s underside. Within 24 hours, the Boone was being towed to Rota, Spain, for repairs by a German replenishment oiler, FGS Spessart, Taylor said. The ship was not adrift or totally dead in the water beca…

The May 2008 ieee Spectrum magazine had an engaging article describing some attempts to prevent sabotage of military electronic components as more and more of those components originate outside of government production facilities and outside of US facilities. I've finally gotten around to tracking down the online version. You can find it at: http://spectrum.ieee.org/may08/6171 The topic really crosses a number of my interests, electronic design, weapons systems, Harpoon... So far I can't imagine how one goes about modelling cyber attacks in our games, let alone faulty chips. Is there a 1 in 1000 chance that all of your F-22 are going to become unuseable in a scena…

From Defense Aerospace Navy Names Littoral Combat Ship USS Fort Worth (Source: US Navy; issued March 6, 2009) WASHINGTON --- Secretary of the Navy Donald Winter announced March 6 that the newest littoral combat ship (LCS) will be named USS Fort Worth. The announcement continues the practice of naming the agile LCS vessels after American midsized cities, small towns and communities. For more than 150 years, the patriotic citizens of Fort Worth have supported the Navy and all of our men and women in uniform. Home to ranger outposts, training facilities, aviation depots, and defense manufacturing, Fort Worth has answered the call whenever our nation needed it. …

Two opposing points of view: US Navy Needs Diesel Submarines and Old Tech Isn't the Answer

South American future for HMS Norfolk EDP 20 July 2005 20:04 HMS Norfolk, the county's adopted warship, has been sold to the Chilean Navy as part of a three-ship package deal worth just under £200m. It means the sixth ship to bear the county name has followed its predecessor for a new life south of the equator. The Type 23 frigate, which ended its Royal Navy service at the end of March, will head to the southern hemisphere with sister ships HMS Grafton and HMS Marlborough over the next three years. Training and spare parts are also included in the $350m (£192m) deal. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “That represents extremely good value for …

Command readies assault on terror Web sites By Jim Michaels - USA Today Posted : Wednesday Mar 28, 2007 6:34:42 EDT The U.S. military has been quietly developing capabilities to attack enemy computer networks, including hacking into terrorist Web sites, military officials and experts say. The move comes as al-Qaida and other groups fighting in Iraq and elsewhere have expanded their activities on the Internet and increased the sophistication and volume of their videos and messages. Much of the material is designed to raise money and recruit fighters for Iraq. “You should not let them operate uncontested” on the Internet and elsewhere in cyberspace, said Ma…

From DefenseNews U.S. Navy Mulls New F/A-18E/F Buy By philip ewing Published: 5 Mar 16:48 EST (11:48 GMT) The U.S. Navy is considering buying 69 F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighters to bridge a "strike-fighter gap" that commanders fear could imperil aviation readiness at a time when older jets are wearing out before new aircraft are ready to take their place, top service officials said March 5. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead, who appeared before a Senate panel with Navy Secretary Donald Winter and Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Conway, mentioned the "fighter gap" in written testimony submitted to the Senate Appropriations Committee defense subco…