early 2010s

Russia Seen Pursuing U.S. Missile Shield Tech Thursday, March 24, 2011 Russia is pursuing an agreement with the Obama administration that would give Moscow access to U.S. technology for interceptors designed to destroy enemy missiles on impact, the Washington Times reported on Wednesday (see...

One from CAC: http://bit.ly/fO3ucj One from SAC: http://bit.ly/fiz2Vh

Leaks reported on SDSR were accurate. Harrier and current carriers to be retired, in 2011 for Harrier. 1 CVF to get cats and traps and F-35C from 2020. Other CVF to be mothballed. Nimrod MRA.4 cancelled, new 'low cost frigates' to join escort force numbering 19. Reduced Tornado fleet retained...

Lockheed Martin and Skunk Works unveiled a concept of medium-altitude /long endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) called "Multi purpose long endurance" (MPLE) at the AUVSI yesterday. Links: http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/the-dewline/2010/08/auvsi-skunk-works-unveils-medi.html...

Latest stories are that the entire RAF Tornado fleet may be retired. The £7.5bn 'saved' may help pay for a Trident replacement. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1298871/RAF-Tornado-fleet-faces-axe-bid-save-7bn.html This is still speculative (the 'leak' was hardly an agreed policy...

I thought it was about time for a bit of bar thumping. Now that we have a new Government the MOD will be doing a Strategic Review. It seems to me that the Royal Navy will have an opportunity to shape its escort fleet for the next 20 to 30 years. Some things seem to be given already...

Story from NTM-A (Nato Training Mission - Afghanistan) Kabul, Afghanistan, May 15, 2010--U.S. Air Force Major Caleb Nimmo is the first American Mi-35 HIND attack helicopter pilot to fly in combat. He is deployed to Afghanistan advising the Afghan National Army Air Corps’ rotary wing squadron...

FYI some links to images of the Indian Limited Upgrade Sea Harrier (LUSH). Images with outboard missile rails with one Magic and one Israeli Derby Missile, taken on board INS Viraat (ex-Hermes): http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NAVY/Galleries/5267-1/viraat01+039.jpg...

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/03/25/russia.uk.intercepts/index.html?hpt=T2 Is this just payback for all the times we did it to them over the years?

http://www.aolnews.com/nation/article/boeing-proposes-missile-with-global-reach/19405693 "The company says it has a missile concept ready, and that if it gets the go-ahead and funding from the Pentagon, the weapon could be ready for fielding within 30 months. The missile, which was developed...

I open this thread for a big secret project ! ;D The Future Surface Combatant project ! This project replace eventually all US cruisers of Ticonderoga class & very probably all (a minima, all earlier DDG of arleigh burke class) arleigh burke DDG. Any news, any data, info, possible drawing ? ;D...

Light-Attack Plane Could Save USAF Millions of Dollars Per Year Inside the Air Force, Aug. 21, 2009 -- The Air Force could save hundreds of millions of dollars each year in fuel and operation costs alone if it replaced one-and-a-half of its deployed fighter squadrons with smaller, light-attack...

WaveRider test vehicle meets B-52 by Derek Kaufman 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs 8/4/2009 - WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFNS) -- Airmen successfully mated the X-51A WaveRider flight test vehicle to a B-52 Stratofortress July 17 at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The fit check...

Does anyone have additional information or concept art for the Air-Dominance Cruiser, CG(X)? It sounds like it will be a replacement of the Ticonderoga-class (CG-47) and use technology developed from the Zumwalt-class project. http://peoships.crane.navy.mil/CGX/default.htm

FAST program seeks to mature hypersonic air vehicles and space launch technologies AFRL Air Vehicles News and Accomplishments, January 2008 AFRL is teaming up with a number of aerospace industry contractors to begin ground experiments as part of the Future-responsive Access to Space...

Obviously, this concept by French company DCN is aimed to rival the Zumwaalt class of future destroyers that are being developped ( not without problems, so it seems) by the US Navy. Trimaran design, a proposed armament of a single three gun turret ( 155mm). One single launch module for 48...