Search results for "United States"

X-47B aboard USS Harry S. Truman
Northrop Grumman X-47B Pegasus Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) demonstrator on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). The air vehicle arrived by barge from Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. The USS Truman is the first aircraft carrier to host test operations for an unmanned aircraft. The Navy plans to conduct X-47B carrier deck handling tests aboard the ship.

KC-135 upgrades to keep aircraft flying for decades
The 1950's-era KC-135 Stratotankers are slated starting next year to be souped-up with upgraded engines that will extend the nation's global reach for another two decades. At the same time, experts say the improved engines will also burn less fuel and spend less time in maintenance.

493rd EFS flies to protect Iceland's air sovereignty
KEFLAVIK, Iceland -- The 493rd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron is conducting Icelandic air policing missions here until June 7. The squadron, which is made up of U.S. Air Force and other North Atlantic Treaty Organization personnel, is a specialized team prepared to ensure Iceland's air sovereignty.

MC-130 J name change promotes modern missions, preserves heritage
Officials announced at HURLBURT FIELD, Fla on March 9 a popular name change for the MC130-J that honors the Air Commando legacy and capitalizes on the versatility of the aircraft. "Air Force Special Operation Command MC-130 Js will be equipped to fly various missions and will be called Commando II," said Lt. Gen. Eric Fiel, AFSOC commander, in the memorandum requesting the change. "This name best reflects the multimission role of the aircraft and the units that will fly them."

Eglin launches first F-35 training mission
No matter what uniform they wear, service members of the 33rd Fighter Wing know the launch of the first F-35 Lightning II flight here March 6 is a small step into the next half century of air dominance.

Boeing delivers the first production P-8A Poseidon to the U.S. Navy
Boeing on March 4 officially delivered the first production P-8A Poseidon aircraft to the U.S. Navy in Seattle. The P-8A is the first of 13 anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft Boeing will deliver as part of a low-rate initial production (LRIP) contract awarded in 2011.

305th Air Mobility Wing carries out first Elephant Walk in 5 years
The 305th Air Mobility Wing completed its first 'Elephant Walk' in nearly five years, launching all 12 KC-10 Extenders on the ramp, one right after the other, in a 30-minute time period Dec. 20.

Boeing Awarded Contract for PBL Sustainment of C-17 Globemaster III
October 7th - Boeing [NYSE: BA] has received a performance based logistics (PBL) contract from the U.S. Department of Defense for the C-17 Globemaster III Integrated Sustainment Program (GISP).

USAF F-22 fleet to resume flight operations
The Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz have recently approved an implementation plan developed by Air Combat Command officials that will allow the F-22 Raptor to resume flight operations after a four-month stand down.

First F-35A for USAF completes first flight
The first F-35A production aircraft that will be delivered to Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, later this year took off from Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base on Friday, May 6, with Lockheed Martin test pilot Bill Gigliotti at the controls.

Boeing Phantom Ray completes first flight
The Boeing Phantom Ray unmanned airborne system (UAS) successfully completed its first flight April 27 at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

MC-130J rollout accelerates AFSOC recapitalisation
Air Force Special Operations Command officials welcomed the latest variant of the MC-130 at a rollout ceremony held at Lockheed Martin's Marietta, Ga., factory recently.

USAF B-1 bombers fly from the US to attack targets in Libya
March 29 - B-1B Lancers from the 28th Bomb Wing launched early Sunday, March 27 from their home station of Ellsworth Air Force Base to strike targets in Libya in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn.

Lockheed Martin rolls out first Special Ops MC-130J Combat Shadow II
Lockheed Martin rolled out the first aircraft in a new fleet of MC-130J Combat Shadow IIs for the U.S. Air Force’s Special Operations Command (AFSOC) during a ceremony here today.

U.S. Naval Test Pilot School celebrates 66 years
Standing in front of the the Navy’s oldest and newest aircraft, the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School students, staff and faculty celebrated the school's birthday earlier this month.

USAF F-15E down in Libya, crew is safe
March 22 - Two crew members ejected from their U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle when the aircraft experienced equipment malfunction over northeast Libya, March 21, 2011 at approximately 10:30 p.m. CET.

Operation Odyssey Dawn - Day 1 - US involvment
March 20 - On the first night of Operation Odyssey Dawn, numerous United States aircraft and weapons systems were employed over and around Libya.

Marines declare AH-1Z Cobra operational
The Marine Corps' newest attack helicopter, the AH-1Z Cobra, achieved Initial Operating Capability ahead of schedule in February.

First MC-130J training program takes flight
As the first MC-130J Combat Shadow II rolled off the Lockheed Martin factory line, a training flight class recently conducted sorties in preparation for transition to the new airframe.

First F-35C Breaks Sound Barrier
March 4 - The first F-35C test aircraft (CF-1) flew faster than the speed of sound for the first time over a test range near the US Navy and Marine Corps F-35 integrated test facility at Naval Air Station Patuxent River.

US Air Force launches second X-37 unmanned spacecraft
March 5th - The US Air Force has launched it's second X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV) from Cape Canaveral in Florida.

Testing puts LAIRCM on target to protect tankers
One of the most common threats in the war in Afghanistan is the Man-portable Air Defense System (MANPAD), usually in the form of shoulder-fired infrared missiles. Without any countermeasures, large, slow-moving aircraft were susceptible to attack by such means.

V-22 Osprey surpasses 100,000 flight hours
The V-22 Joint Program Office announced that the V-22 Osprey surpassed 100,000 flight hours in February while supporting combat operations in Afghanistan.

Boeing to build U.S. Air Force tankers
The U.S. Air Force announced that it has selected Boeing's NewGen Tanker to be its new KC-46A air refueling jet.

Boeing EA-18G Growlers Deployed by US Navy
Boeing today announced that EA-18G Growler airborne electronic attack aircraft have been deployed for the first time by the U.S. Navy.

Hickam C-17 drops a Navy boat over Pacific
A 535th Airlift Squadron aircrew from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, and the U.S. Navy Special Warfare Unit One from Guam teamed up to drop a boat out of the back of a C-17 using the Maritime Craft Aerial Delivery System Jan. 13.

USS Harry S. Truman Makes First E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Launch
The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, the Navy's newest airborne early warning and control aircraft, made its first launch Feb. 1, from USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) in the Atlantic Ocean.

Hurricane Hunters switch gears to fly winter storms missions
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- The Hurricane Hunters are in full swing with winter storm missions in Anchorage, Alaska.

US Navy to begin initial production of P-8A
The U.S. Navy announced today the award of a $1.6 billion contract to Boeing for P-8A Poseidon aircraft Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) of six aircraft.

USAF to use F-4's to tow target banners
The 82nd Aerial Target Squadron are replacing the use of Lear jets for their banner tow missions with the QF-4 Phantom, creating an air-to-air target that aircrews in training can safely evaluate, develop and test their weapons systems.

Holloman Airmen provide 5th generation fighter support
Two T-38 Talons were delivered to Holloman AFB, New Mexico, in December with the help of NASA officials.

Gates to restructure the F-35 JSF program
The US Defence Department has found $154 billion in efficiencies over the next five years and will be able to invest $70 billion of that saved money in more deserving accounts, Defence Secretary Robert M. Gates said today.

Project Liberty reaches 5,000 sortie milestone
Crew members from the US Air Forces's 362nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron flying an MC-12W Liberty aircraft, the Air Force's newest intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft (ISR), reached a milestone by flying its 5,000th sortie on December 30th 2010.