Current Events in the Americas

Man, what is the Navy coming to? From Military.com today:http://www.military.com/news/article/navy-tops-2010-with-18th-co-firing.html?ESRC=navy.nl Buddha

From Military.com: http://www.military.com/news/article/secon...ml?ESRC=navy.nl Buddha

defense-aerospace Pursuant to the UAV discussion that was going on down page in the H4 section, this may be of some ancillary interest. Boeing Apache and Unmanned Little Bird Demonstrator Test Expands UAV Control ST. LOUIS --- Boeing has demonstrated for the first time the ability of an AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopter to control an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) weapon payload. Boeing demonstrated the capability in February at its Mesa, Ariz., facility, home of both Apache helicopter production and the company's Unmanned Little Bird (ULB) UAV technology demonstrator used in the milestone test. "Evaluations of the Apache Longbow helicopter's ability to…

From Jane's Defence Weekly Nagging software problem plagues Super Hornet radar Stephen Trimble JDW Americas Bureau Chief Washington DC The advanced radar developed for the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet has completed a key testing period with a nagging software problem still unresolved but showing improvement, according to the US Navy. The Raytheon APG-79 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar - the first dual-mode sensor in service on a US military fighter - completed its operational test and evaluation phase on 6 December 2006. The APG-79 continues to suffer from software glitches but programme officials believe that projected growth curves will p…

In service in 7-missile launch pods with AH-1W, UH-1Y, MH-60S. In future service in MH-60R, AH-1Z, both iin 2015, F/A-18C/D in 2017-2018. Possibly in Australia's Tiger attack helicopter from 2015. Qualified for MQ-8B (2x3 pods) and probably MQ-8C (2x7 pods). Employed by Iraq from Bell 407 and Cessna Caravan. More details here: http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/apkws-ii-hellfire-jr-hydra-rockets-enter-sdd-phase-02193/

Nobody has keep an eye in the Venezuelan flag in the Argentine ship embargoed in Ghana ?

Argentine navy loses contact with submarine (CNN) TR1700 class ARA San Juan (S-42)

Dust off your South Atlantic battleset! Argentina and China agree fighter aircraft working group (Jane's)

From Telegraph [excerpt]

Argentina planned to blow up warship in Gibraltar during the Falklands War By Graham Keeley in Barcelona Published: 04 April 2007 TheIndependent It was a spy story with a plot out of James Bond. During the Falklands War, Argentina planned to blow up a British warship in Gibraltar. The main protagonist was a former left-wing guerrilla turned spy who specialised in mine attacks on warships. A Spanish film-maker, Jesus Mora, has made a documentary about Operation Algeciras. For many years, no one in authority would admit the plot existed but Mora got the former Spanish prime minister Leopoldo Calvo Sotelo and the chief of the Argentine navy at the time, Admira…

From Defense Aerospace [excerpt]

Argentina threatens companies over Falklands oil drilling (CNN)

Britain a "crude colonial power in decline" says Argentine President Tension brewing in the South Atlantic?

From Ares Check it out. Brazen?

From Aviation Week Bill Redirects ARH Funds Toward UH-60s Mar 23, 2007 The Senate Appropriations Committee (SAC) approved legislation March 22 that would transfer supplemental fiscal 2007 funds requested for two Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters (ARH) to replace two UH-60 Black Hawks lost in combat. The roughly $122 billion bill also would fully fund seven other requested UH-60s, according to a summary of the legislation provided by SAC staff. The Senate is expected to take up the bill March 26, SAC Chairman Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) said after a markup hearing. Bell Helicopter Textron's prototype ARH-70A crashed on a golf course in Mansfield, Texas, on Feb. 2…

From Defense Aerospace Army Cancels Non-Line-of-Sight Launch System (Source: US Department of Defense; issued May 13, 2010) The Department of Defense announced today that it authorized the Army to cancel the Non-Line-of-Sight Launch System and transition management responsibilities for system development and acquisition from the old Future Combat System (FCS) program - currently aligned under Program Executive Office Integration (PEO I) - to the PEOs that already manage similar systems. Both decisions are a result of the Capability Portfolio Reviews, a new process the Army implemented in February. The Army’s vision is to have an effective, affordable and mode…

Army Expected to Sell Off Thousands of Surplus 1911 Pistols (Kit Up!) A great opportunity for some of you to grab a piece of history.

Army resumes recon helo effort; House says no By Kris Osborn - Staff writer Posted : Monday May 21, 2007 20:53:29 EDT The Army has resumed spending money on the Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH-70A) program, led by prime contractor Bell Helicopter Textron. In March, Army officials temporarily halted funding for the program due to cost escalation and production concerns. On May 18, Army acquisitions undersecretary Claude Bolton and a Systems Acquisition Review Council reviewed the effort and lifted the funding ban. “The Army will continue with Bell Helicopter/Textron Inc. as the prime contractor for the Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter,” according to a …

Officials Discuss Executive Agency for UAVs (Source: US Air Force; issued April 14, 2007) WASHINGTON --- Air Force officials invited Defense representatives to the Pentagon April 13 to discuss the Air Force's proposal to assume executive agent responsibilities for medium- and high-altitude unmanned aerial vehicles. The proposal was put forward March 5 in a memorandum to senior Defense officials from Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley. The memorandum stated the Air Force's desire for executive agency of the UAVs, and also indicated its desire to discuss the proposal with other service and combatant command representatives, said Col. …

From DefenseNews Explosion May Put U.S. Mini-Sub Program in Danger By christopher p. cavas Published: 9 Dec 11:43 EST (16:43 GMT) The long-stalled future of the U.S. special warfare community's troubled mini-submarine is even cloudier after a serious explosion and fire struck the craft last month, ironically on the cusp of a new mission and a new way ahead for the program. The Advanced SEAL Delivery Vehicle 1 (ASDS-1) was having its lithium-ion batteries charged Nov. 9 when an explosion started a battery fire that burned for about six hours. No one was aboard the 60-ton craft, which was on shore at its base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Federal firefighters s…