August 6, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval
By: David B. Larter
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy's aircraft carrier-borne tanker drone, the MQ-25 Stingray, is preparing to head into the fall resuming test flights, this time with the crucial fuel store pod attached.
The store pod — the same one integrated into the Navy's stalwart F/A-18 Super Hornet for aerial refueling — was recently integrated into the MQ-25 test article under the wing.
“When we resume flight testing later this year, we'll have the opportunity to gather test points about the aerodynamics of that pod and the software commands that control it — all happening well before we deliver the Navy's first MQ-25 jet with the same pod,” MQ-25 program director Dave Bujold said in a statement from the aircraft's manufacturer, Boeing.
“That early testing and early software development is a big part of supporting the Navy's goal to get MQ-25 to the fleet as quickly as possible,” he added.
The engineers will primarily observe the aerodynamics of the pod mounted on the Stingray test article, then seeing how the hose and drogue behave while being dragged behind the airframe.
Possible delays
In June, Defense News reported that the MQ-25 could face a three-year testing delay if it doesn't get its designated test ships through the required modernizations on time, a possibility the Navy said was remote.
Two carriers — Carl Vinson and George H.W. Bush — have limited windows to complete the installation of unmanned aircraft control stations, and if operational commitments intervene, the program could experience significant problems, according to Navy officials and a government watchdog report.
“Program officials stated that, among other things, the Navy's potential inability to maintain its schedule commitments could require modifications to the contract that would impact the fixed-price terms,” the Government Accountability Office reported. “Specifically, the Navy faces limited flexibility to install MQ-25 control centers on aircraft carriers.
“If the Navy misses any of its planned installation windows, the program would have to extend MQ-25 development testing by up to 3 years. According to officials, such a delay could necessitate a delay to initial capability and result in a cost increase.”
The Navy's MQ-25 Stingray aerial refueling drone took its first flight Sept. 19, a historic step toward integrating an unmanned aircraft into the service's powerful strike arm.
Navy officials say a three-year delay is “extremely unlikely”; however, the Navy has struggled in recent years to balance its modernization schedules with operational commitments, a problem that its “Optimized Fleet Response Plan” deployment rotation scheme was supposed to address. Ultimately, a delay would further push back the Navy's ability to extend its carrier air wing's range through unmanned tanking, critical to keeping the service's powerful strike arm relevant against long-range guided munitions.
September 7, 2021 | International, Security
The services say in-house coders allow them to be more flexible during missions, rather than relying solely on contractor support to build cyber tools.
April 19, 2021 | International, Aerospace
DEFIANT X builds on the handling qualities and transformational capabilities proven in flight tests by our SB>1 DEFIANT technology demonstrator and is already undergoing testing and evaluation in a digital...
December 2, 2019 | International, Aerospace
MBDA vient de dévoiler qu'il a procédé à plusieurs essais de la version à portée étendue de son missile surface-air CAMM et destinée à fournir une solution commune aux "trois environnements". MBDA vient de dévoiler avoir réalisé plusieurs essais de la version à portée étendue de son missile surface-air CAMM. Un programme de missile initialement lancé par MBDA pour répondre aux besoins des Forces armées britanniques. Le CAMM se décline en version aérienne, terrestre et maritime. Pour la première, il s'agit d'offrir une alternative à l'ASRAAM. La variante terrestre, parfois dénommée "Land Ceptor", doit remplacer les batteries de missiles Rapier de l'Armée britannique tandis que la variante maritime, "Sea Ceptor", doit remplacer les Sea Wolf de la Royal Navy. La variante à portée étendue ou CAMM-ER bénéficie d'un moteur plus puissant pour atteindre, voire dépasser les 40 km. MBDA indique qu'une portée supérieure à 40 km a été confirmée par les essais réalisés depuis plusieurs mois. Le CAMM-ER a été commandé par les Forces armées italiennes dans ses versions aériennes et terrestres tandis que la Marine italienne envisage d'acquérir la version maritime. https://www.air-cosmos.com/article/mbda-a-mis-son-missile-camm-er-aux-essais-22126