Boeing’s ‘Hummingbird’ Out of Mix For New Marine Corps Drone
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CORRECTED We deeply regret the several corrections this story has required. We spoke with NavAir to ensure it now accurately reflects events at the time. FT. LAUDERDALE: Boeing’s premiere helicopter drone is out of the mix to become the Marine Corps’ new unmanned aerial cargo hauler. Company officials are negotiating with their NAVAIR counterparts to… Keep reading →
JSF Weapons Tests Set; F-35A Flight Clearance ‘Within Weeks’
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ORLANDO: It is the most expensive conventional weapon system ever built. At least one government estimate puts the total cost of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter at roughly $1 trillion over the presumed 50-year life of the aircraft. The three F-35’s variants — one each for the Air Force, the Navy and the Marines —… Keep reading →
Marines Test Helo Drone To Haul MREs and H2O to FOBs
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WASHINGTON: The proposition can’t be proven yet, but it’s likely some Marines in Afghanistan who might have been killed or wounded since mid-December by roadside bombs, aka IEDs, are alive and well today thanks to an experimental unmanned helicopter the Corps is testing. Between Dec. 17 and Jan. 12, two remotely piloted but largely automated… Keep reading →
Mideast, European Allies Eye Scan Eagle Drone
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CORRECTED WASHINGTON: The Navy’s venerable Scan Eagle unmanned drone could go global if service leaders can lock in agreements with a number of key European and Mideast allies. Navy leaders are considering foreign military sales of the Scan Eagle to Kuwait, Pakistan and the Netherlands, according to a presentation by Marine Corps Col. James Rector,… Keep reading →
Is ‘Ford Tough’ Tough Enough For DoD Acquisition
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WASHINGTON: Ford Motor Company’s foray into the defense sector could be good for the Pentagon, but questions remain whether the automotive giant can navigate the complex and oft-frustrating acquisition process, according to a defense analysts. Ford is vying against defense firms General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems to build the next-generation combat truck for… Keep reading →
Navy Successfully Links UAV Data To Helo In Flight Trials
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WASHINGTON: The Navy’s premiere combat helicopter and unmanned drone can now operate in tandem during future combat operations after successfully completing initial tests late last year. Officials at Naval Air Systems command were able to link up the Lockheed Martin-built MH-60 Sierra with Northrop Grumman’s Fire Scout unmanned drone during a series of operational evaluations… Keep reading →
Navy Sees LCS As Key To Partner Nation Building
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WASHINGTON: The Navy has long touted the Littoral Combat Ship’s multimission abilities to support U.S. forces. But the next-generation warship will also be key role in supporting America’s allies across the globe. The Navy is pursuing an “aggressive fielding” strategy to get the LCS into the fleet, Rear Adm. Thomas Rowden, director of the service’s… Keep reading →
Northrop Pitches New Fire Scout To Marine Corps
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WASHINGTON: The Navy’s newest Fire Scout drone may also become the Marine Corps newest aerial cargo drone if prime contractor Northrop Grumman has its way. The Marines are currently testing Lockheed Martin’s KMAX aerial drone and Boeing’s A160 Hummingbird as potential candidates for the unmanned airlift mission. Naval Air Systems Command recently decided to stop… Keep reading →
Air Force Buys Light Attack Planes For Afghans — Not U.S.
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Just before the New Year, the U.S. Air Force finally selected a new Light Air Support plane for ground attack in counterinsurgency, picking the Brazilian Super Tucano over the American AT-6– whose manufacturer, Wichita, Kan.-based Hawker Beechcraft, is filing suit over the decision [update: leading the Air Force to issue a stop-work order on the… Keep reading →
Strike Eagle Sale Sets Stage For Lucrative SNEP II Deal
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WASHINGTON: Boeing’s big win to supply Saudi Arabia with F-15 fighters could set up a larger, more lucrative deal to revamp the country’s naval forces, according to company officials. Washington and Riyadh inked a $29.4 billion deal to provide 84 new Boeing-built F-15E fighters for the Royal Saudi Air Force. Boeing and the Air Force… Keep reading →