19 novembre 2021 | International, Aérospatial
What the USAF’s ‘four-plus-one’ fighter fleet looks like - Skies Mag
The Next-Generation Air Dominance fighter, F-15EX, F-35, and F-16 are where the U.S. Air Force sees its fighter future.
5 mars 2019 | International, Aérospatial
USAF issues draft RFP for new Open Skies aircraft
Gareth Jennings, London - Jane's Defence Weekly
The US Air Force (USAF) has issued a draft request for proposals (RFP) for its Open Skies Treaty Aircraft Recapitalization (OSTAR) requirement.
The draft RFP, released on 28 February, sets out the preliminary requirements for two aircraft to replace the USAF's current pair of Boeing OC-135B platforms that have performed the role since 1996.
As noted in the solicitation, the aircraft will be a new-build platform that will be equipped with a Digital Visual Imaging System (DVIS), Mobile Digital Ground Processing System (MDGPS), and other mission kit.
According to the draft RFP, the OSTAR programme will be delivered in three phases: the first phase covering aircraft production and modification, the second covering delivery of the aircraft and operational testing, and the third covering the aircraft's entry into service.
The programme will run from February 2020 to February 2030, and will be valued at no more than USD648 million. A final RFP is due to be released in May.
The USAF's current OC-135B Open Skies platforms are crewed by three pilots, two navigators, and two sensor maintenance technicians (the DTRA mission flight crew), one mission commander, one deputy mission commander, two sensor operators, and one flight follower.
The aircraft are assigned to Air Combat Command (ACC) at the 55 Wing, 45th Reconnaissance Squadron, Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska for operations, training, and maintenance.
https://www.janes.com/article/86954/usaf-issues-draft-rfp-for-new-open-skies-aircraft
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10 juillet 2020 | International, Aérospatial
Japan unveils timeline for indigenous fighter jet program
By: Mike Yeo   20 hours ago MELBOURNE, Australia — Japan has created a timeline for the development and fielding of its locally made next-generation fighter jet, with serial production set to start at the beginning of the next decade. The Japanese Ministry of Defense presented the draft development plan for the fighter program to a group of lawmakers from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Tuesday, which showed that full-scale production is due to begin in 2031. The ministry added that the prime contractor for the program will be selected by early next year, although it could happen as soon as October 2020. This is to allow for the basic design for the airframe and engine to be launched before the end of the current Japanese fiscal year, which ends March 31, 2021. The next step would be the production of the first fighter prototype, which is planned to begin in 2024, with flight tests earmarked to start in 2028 following finalization of the design and production plans. The new fighter is slated to replace about 90 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries F-2 fighters, which are due to be phased out in the mid-2030s, as its replacement is to be formally introduced into service in 2035. Japan previously said the new fighter will be stealthy and interoperable with the U.S. military. Japan has researched and developed fighter technology over the past decade, including work on stealth designs and materials, active electronically scanned array radars, and afterburning turbofan engines. In addition, the U.S. ally also conducted a series of test flights of a locally designed and built fighter technology demonstrator between 2016 and 2018 in order to validate its work. The country used the data gleaned from the test program to further refine its indigenous capabilities. Despite these efforts, the country is still the largest customer of the American Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jet, with plans to eventually operate 157 F-35s, including 42 of the short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing F-35B variant. These will be used to equip the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's anti-submarine helicopter destroyer Izumo, which is being refurbished to accommodate F-35B operations. https://www.defensenews.com/air/2020/07/09/japan-unveils-timeline-for-indigenous-fighter-jet-program/
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26 septembre 2024 | International, Aérospatial
White House announces billions in new Ukraine aid, new F-16 training
The almost $8 billion in assistance will empty out the money approved in an April supplemental defense bill passed by Congress.