18 juin 2021 | International, Aérospatial
US Army could soon have a high-power microwave to destroy small drone swarms
The Army wants to begin high-power microwave development and prototyping efforts in FY22 to defeat small drone swarms.
15 août 2018 | International, Aérospatial
Lockheed nabs another big hypersonic weapons contract
By: Valerie Insinna
WASHINGTON — Lockheed Martin will design a second hypersonic weapon prototype for the U.S. Air Force, the service announced Monday.
Although final terms have not been established, the contract could be worth up to $480 million for the critical design review, testing and production readiness support of the Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon, or ARRW.
Lockheed is already working on a separate hypersonic weapon for the Air Force under the Hypersonic Conventional Strike Weapon program, or HCSW, and this newest award sets it up to become a hypersonics-manufacturing powerhouse at a time when the Defense Department is deeply interested in the technology — and is investing funds to match that interest.
“We are going to go fast and leverage the best technology available to get hypersonic capability to the warfighter as soon as possible,” Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson said in a statement announcing the contract.
The Air Force wants to move both ARRW and the HCSW to a flying prototype as soon as possible, with 2021 cited as the goal date. By signing off on an undefinitized contract action, Lockheed and the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center will be able to begin working on the program as the parties settle the final terms and price of the contract.
Full Article: https://www.defensenews.com/air/2018/08/14/lockheed-nabs-another-big-hypersonic-weapons-contract/
Sur le même sujet
-
-
30 avril 2020 | International, Aérospatial
COVID-19 Impacts Air Force One Replacement Bottom Line
Lee Hudson Graham Warwick Boeing is facing a novel coronavirus-related setback to the VC-25B presidential transport program, causing the company to recognize a $168 million impact in the first quarter. The VC-25B effort faced “inefficiencies” because personnel were directed to work virtually because of COVID-19. This forced Boeing to re-evaluate its estimate, Greg Smith, the company's chief financial officer, told reporters April 29 following a first-quarter earnings call. “The reach-forward loss on VC-25B is associated with engineering inefficiencies from the COVID-19 environment,” according to Boeing's first-quarter earnings report. “We believe these inefficiencies will result in staffing challenges, schedule inefficiencies and higher costs in the upcoming phases of the program.” The U.S. Air Force acknowledged the VC-25B program is a victim of COVID-19 because of component delivery delays from overseas suppliers, the service's acquisition executive, Will Roper, told reporters April 29. However, the V-25B program is a fixed-price contract, meaning Boeing will take the financial hit, not the Air Force. Smith reiterated that despite the financial loss, the program remains on schedule. Boeing began structural modifications on the first 747-8 aircraft to become a VC-25B in March after removing the interior, engines, auxiliary power units and other subsystems. The Air Force acquired the 747-8s in 2017 after selecting Boeing to replace two VC-25As that now perform the role. The service anticipates spending $5.3 billion to complete modifications on both aircraft to begin operations at the end of 2024. https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/budget-policy-operations/covid-19-impacts-air-force-one-replacement-bottom-line
-
7 janvier 2022 | International, Aérospatial
The T-7 takes shape: Inside the factory where the Air Force's next trainer is being built
Boeing says its high-tech methods to design and build the T-7A Red Hawk are saving time, simplifying processes, improving quality and cutting down on defects.