RCAF pilot flies U.S. Air Force C-17 in exchange program - Skies Mag

On the same subject

• 

  November 21, 2023 | International, Naval

  Pentagon seeks to rapidly build up information-warfare force

  Emerging technologies play a critical role in both waging and foiling influence campaigns, according to the Defense Department's strategy.

• 

  March 12, 2019 | International, Aerospace

  Air Force offers glimpse of new, stealthy combat drone during first flight

  By: Kyle Rempfer The XQ-58A Valkyrie demonstrator, a long-range, high-subsonic unmanned combat air vehicle, completed its inaugural flight Tuesday at Yuma Proving Grounds, in Arizona. The Air Force's fleet of current drones, such as the MQ-9 Reaper, are basically giant gas bags that fly — able to loiter for long periods above friendly forces in order to provide armed overwatch and intelligence. But the airspace over future battlefields will likely not be permissive, and so new drones will need to be developed. XQ-58A Valkyries were developed under the low-cost attritable aircraft technology program — meaning they're cheap and can be lost in combat without too much concern. The drone and its derivatives are anticipated to perform a range of missions, including suppression of enemy air defenses, offensive and defensive counter-air maneuvers, nap-of-the-earth or terrain masking flight and high-altitude flying. The Valkyrie appears to come with a stealthy, low radar signature design, meaning it may be able to be paired with the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter in a manned-unmanned configuration. When entering enemy airspace filled with counter-air systems, the Valkyrie could conceivably soak up enemy fire or even attack enemy positions and aircraft. The F-35 has been touted by the Air Force chief of staff as the “quarterback of the joint team," and not simply another stealth aircraft. The fifth-generation fighter is expected to come with a suite of information fusion capabilities, enabling its pilot to process information and coordinate on the battlefield like never before. Full article: https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2019/03/08/air-force-offers-glimpse-of-new-stealthy-combat-drone-during-first-flight

• 

  November 4, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

  NATO International Concept Development & Experimentation (ICD&E) Conference

  In NATO, much of concept development and experimentation (CD&E) activity begins with the identification of a concept that will contribute to capability development. Since a concept represents the first step to developing a capability, the starting point for the concept's development will often result from emerging technologies impacting on traditional methods of carrying out military operations. As acknowledged by Rear Admiral John Tammen in his welcome address to the International Concept Development & Experimentation (ICD&E) Conference, organised by NATO Allied Command Transformation (ACT), “the Science and Technology Organization had already done a significant amount of study into EDTs”, and thus, as the world's largest collaborative research forum in the field of defence and security, the STO can help inform concept developers on scientific research and technology innovations to help NATO develop concepts and capabilities to face current and future security challenges. Besides its virtual booth, the STO contributed to the ICD&E Conference with experts from the System Analysis and Studies (SAS) Panel, who ran a virtual wargame based on Intermediate Force Capability, and Exercise MADness, a CD&E exercise for countering civil unrest with emerging non-munitions technologies. Finally, the CMRE Deputy Director, Dr. Giovanni Sembenini, addressed the conference's main stage to reflect upon “Experimenting at the Frontier: S&T Challenges at CMRE in support of Naval Operations”. For further insight on the STO's work on CD&E, check out this video on Non-lethal Weapons and Intermediate Force Capabilities (IFC), which has helped to support the NATO Protection of Civilians Concept and is currently helping support NATO and National NLW/IFC concepts. https://www.sto.nato.int/Lists/STONewsArchive/displaynewsitem.aspx?ID=578