The sixth F-35 JSF development aircraft made its first flight from Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth facility on April 7. The aircraft, an F-35B dubbed BF-4, is the first of the planned 20 development aircraft to be fitted with a mission system and sensor suite, and Block 0.5 flight software. Sensors fitted include an APG-81 AESA
The second Hawker Beechcraft AT-6 Texan II production representative test vehicle (PRTV) has made its first flight fitted with a new Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) PT6A-68D engine with 1600shp (1195kW). The aircraft is a structurally strengthened version of the popular T-6B advanced trainer, developed specifically to meet a growing requirement in the US and
The Obama administration released its Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) on April 6 which is designed to reduce the number and types of nuclear weapons in the US arsenal. The review will see the US continue to strengthen its conventional capabilities and reduce the role of its nuclear weapons in deterring non-nuclear attacks, with the administration saying
Lockheed Martin has rolled out the first HC-130J combat rescue tanker for the USAF from its Marietta facility in Georgia. The aircraft is the first of 115 special operations equipped C-130Js for the USAF, comprising 78 HC-130Js for Air Combat Command (ACC), and 37 MC-130Js for Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). The first aircraft
The General Atomics Predator family of unmanned aerial systems logged its one millionth flight hour during operations over the Easter weekend. Comprising the Predator A, the I-Gnat, the ER/Sky Warrior and Predator B/Reaper UAVs, the milestone was recorded in just under 80,000 missions, 85 per cent of which have been flown on operations. GA-ASI estimates
The RAAF has formally re-formed 460SQN as a subordinate unit within the Defence Imagery and Geospatial Organisation. Falling under the Aerospace Operational Support Group (AOSG), 460SQN will provide geospatial imagery analyst (GIA) support to the ADF with intelligence sources such as imagery and geospatial information to support operations. The squadron has a long and proud
