Current Events in the Americas

LCS: Navy Pushes Back Against Criticisms (Breaking Defense)

From Defense Aerospace RSwN Submarine HMS Gotland on Lease to US Navy for Twelve Months (Source: Kockums AB; issued May 31, 2005) The Swedish Navy submarine HMS Gotland, designed and built by Kockums, is being leased to the US Navy for a year, complete with a Swedish crew, so that the Americans can conduct joint manoeuvres with her. She was recently loaded onto a container ship for freight to the USA. She will initially be based on the US west coast in San Diego. Prior to her transatlantic transit, Kockums’ personnel and others have carried out a thorough overhaul. Among other things, the vessel’s civil communications equipment for marine safety has b…

From AOL Defense [excerpt]

Here's an interesting overview of some of the sonobuoys used by the US Navy. Listening Sticks: US Navy Sonobuoy Contracts Posted 25-Jan-2007 05:04 defenseindustrydaily.com Sonobuoys are used to detect and identify moving underwater objects by either listening for the sounds produced by propellers and machinery (passive detection), or by bouncing a sonar "ping" off the surface of a submarine (active detection). They usually float, or have at least some part of them that does. Specialized sonobuoys can also detect electric fields, magnetic anomalies, and bioluminescence (light emitted by microscopic organisms disturbed by a passing submarine); as well as measuring…

Lockheed awarded $6.9 billion F-22 upgrade contract (Flight Global)

A tall order ... From Flight Global DATE: 04/02/10 SOURCE: Flight International SINGAPORE 2010: Lockheed says F-35s will replace USAF F-15s By Stephen Trimble Lockheed Martin has added all variants of the Boeing F-15 to an internal analysis of US Air Force platforms the company believes will be replaced by the F-35A Lightning II. Lockheed now predicts the F-35A will replace the F-15C/D air superiority fighter and the F-15E Strike Eagle. The USAF officially lists the F-35's conventional takeoff and landing variant as a ground-attack fighter complementing the air superiority mission, replacing only the Lockheed F-16 and the A-10. The speculativ…

From Aviation Week Lockheed Snags DARPA Anti-Ship Missile Award Jul 2, 2009 By Amy Butler and Graham Warwick Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control has won one of two awards from the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to study and design a Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM). DARPA received nine proposals, and one more award is expected in the next 60 days, according to an agency official. Boeing, Raytheon and ATK also submitted proposals. LRASM is an unconventional DARPA effort; the agency typically focuses on technology that is not readily in hand. However, the Navy requested DARPA’s help in fielding LRASM in response to a need …

Lockheed working on new air-to-air hit-to-kill missile (Flight Global)

Lockheed Pitching Revamped Viking to Fill Carrier Cargo and Tanking Roles (USNI News)

From Flight International DATE:24/08/07 SOURCE:Flight International Lockheed tackles JSF power deficit By Stephen Trimble A shortage of electrical power on board the carrier variant of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter has forced Lockheed Martin to launch a redesign of two key subsystems, even as flight tests are set to resume within the next few weeks. Lockheed engineers discovered in laboratory tests in late 2006 that the F-35C will need 33% more power than its on-board generator can provide. The aircraft's flight-control surfaces are powered by electro-hydrostatic actuators and the electrical system has to meet the condition when all the controls demand p…

Lockheed's AMDR

Long Chain of Failures Left Sailors Unprepared to Fight USS Bonhomme Richard Fire, Investigation Finds (USNI News) BHR Command Investigation (434 pp, PDF) Major Fires Review (60 pp, PDF)

From Defense Aerospace Northrop Grumman-Built Mesa Verde (LPD 19) Successfully Completes Builder's Trials (Source: Northrop Grumman Corp.; issued Aug. 20, 2007) PASCAGOULA, Miss. --- The Northrop Grumman-built amphibious transport dock ship Mesa Verde (LPD 19) successfully completed builder's trials last week, in a collaborative effort involving the U.S. Navy and Northrop Grumman. “We had a very successful trial,'' said Philip Teel, corporate vice president and president of Northrop Grumman Ship Systems sector. “The ship is in great shape, and this team performed incredibly well. This ship is ready to serve the Navy.'' Shipbuilders worked on sea trial…

From DefenseNews [excerpt]

From Defence Aerospace LPD 17 Successfully Completes Builder's Sea Trials (Source: US Naval Sea Systems Command; issued May 11, 2005) PASCAGOULA, Miss. --- San Antonio, first ship of the LPD 17 Class, returned to Northrop Grumman Ship Systems (NGSS) Pascagoula facility after successfully demonstrating performance during Builder's Sea Trials. Having accomplished significant pier-side systems testing and dock trials, this underway testing was a critical milestone on the path to ship delivery. NGSS conducted a complete range of tests including ship maneuvering and steering, propulsion and propulsion controls, mission systems, auxiliary systems, and combat syst…

From Defense Aerospace Long Range Land Attack Projectile Test Demonstrates 60 NM Guided Flight (Source: US Navy; issued June 27, 2005) WASHINGTON --- The DD(X) National Team and the Navy conducted the third consecutive successful guided-flight test of the 155mm Long Range Land Attack Projectile (LRLAP) June 16. Preliminary results indicate the munition successfully conducted preplanned maneuvers along a 60 nautical mile flight path during the 280-second flight. “This important test highlights another successful milestone to develop and field long-range, GPS-precise gun munitions for our fleet,” said Rear Adm. Charles Hamilton, the program executive of…

Make the Zumwalt a Fighting Command Ship (Proceedings, May 2020) I like this idea.

Marines experience Brit style on ‘Lusty’ By Vago Muradian - Staff writer Posted : Monday Aug 6, 2007 5:36:26 EDT ABOARD THE HMS ILLUSTRIOUS — What’s the definition of heaven if you’re a Marine Harrier pilot? Why, spending two weeks on one of Britain’s aircraft carriers, of course. “What’s not to like? The flying’s awesome, the food and quarters are great, and you can get a drink at the end of the day,” said Maj. Stephan “Poppy” Bradicich, the executive officer of Marine Attack Squadron 542 who helped plan the unprecedented embarkation of 16 Harriers and 200 Marines aboard HMS Illustrious, known as “Lusty” to its crew. Slideshow Aboard the HMS Illustrious…

San Diego Union-Tribune December 15, 2005 Marines Focus On Replacing Amphibious Troop Carrier Technical glitches have led to delays By Otto Kreisher, Copley News Service WOODBRIDGE, VA. – With the MV-22 Osprey apparently past its long struggle to become operational, the Marine Corps' top priority has become a replacement for its 30-year-old amphibious troop carriers. The proposed replacement, the expeditionary fighting vehicle (EFV), is a technological marvel that is motorboat fast in the water and can keep up with the jet-powered M1 tank on land. It also gives Marine infantrymen better protection and tremendous fire support from a high-tech weapon s…

From Stars & Stripes [excerpt]