Category Archives: Aviation

Navy's UCLASS Could Be Air to Air Fighter

Navy’s UCLASS Could Be Air to Air Fighter

X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstrator (UCAS-D) on Nov. 9, 2013. US Navy

X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstrator (UCAS-D) on Nov. 9, 2013. US Navy

Could the U.S. Navy’s future Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) aircraft have an air-to-air role? The service’s director of air warfare Rear Adm. Mike Manazir posed that it could during a Dec. 20 interview with USNI News. Read More

WEST: Decision on New Carrier Supply Plane 'About a Year Away'

WEST: Decision on New Carrier Supply Plane ‘About a Year Away’

A C-2A Greyhound, takes off from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71). US Navy Photo

A C-2A Greyhound, takes off from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71). US Navy Photo

The Navy is “about a year away” from selecting a replacement for the service’s supply aircraft for the carrier fleet, the head of the Navy’s air forces said during a panel discussion at West 2014 in San Diego Calif. on Wednesday. Read More

Bush Carrier Strike Group to Deploy Saturday

Bush Carrier Strike Group to Deploy Saturday

USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) during its final pre-deployment evaluations on Dec. 13, 2013. US Navy Photo

USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) during its final pre-deployment evaluations on Dec. 13, 2013. US Navy Photo

USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) is scheduled to depart for a Middle East and Mediterranean deployment on Saturday as the centerpiece of Carrier Strike Group 2, U.S. Navy Fleet Forces command announced Wednesday. Read More

WEST: Fox Calls for Tougher and More Lethal Surface Ships

WEST: Fox Calls for Tougher and More Lethal Surface Ships

Acting Deputy Secretary of Defense Christine Fox before the Senate on Jan. 28, 2014. DoD Photo

Acting Deputy Secretary of Defense Christine Fox before the Senate on Jan. 28, 2014. DoD Photo

The number two Pentagon civilian called for more survivable and lethal surface ships instead of “niche platforms” that can only conduct certain missions in permissive environments as the U.S. moves toward its rebalance to the Pacific in a speech at West 2014 conference in San Diego, Calif. on Tuesday. Read More

America Completes Acceptance Trials

America Completes Acceptance Trials

America (LHA-6) returns to Ingalls Shipyard Jan. 31, 2014 from acceptance trials. US Navy Photo

America (LHA-6) returns to Ingalls Shipyard Jan. 31, 2014 from acceptance trials. US Navy Photo

The first in a new class of amphibious warship has completed its acceptance trials, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) announced this week. Read More

Navy: Congressional Oversight Will Not Slow UCLASS Program

Navy: Congressional Oversight Will Not Slow UCLASS Program

X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator is towed into the hangar bay of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) on May, 13 1980. US Navy Photo

X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator is towed into the hangar bay of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) on May, 13 1980. US Navy Photo

The Fiscal Year 2014 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) will not force the U.S. Navy to restructure its Unmanned Carrier Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) aircraft program, service officials said. Read More

X-47B Will Pair With Manned Aircraft in Testing Later This Year

X-47B Will Pair With Manned Aircraft in Testing Later This Year

An X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator conducts a touch and go landing on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77). US Navy Photo

An X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator conducts a touch and go landing on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77). US Navy Photo

The U.S. Navy plans to take the Northrop Grumman X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System-Demonstrator (UCAS-D) aircraft out to sea onboard an aircraft carrier this summer to test how well it operates together with manned aircraft around the ship and on the flight deck. Read More

Document: Pentagon's 2013 Director, Operational Test & Evaluation Report

Document: Pentagon’s 2013 Director, Operational Test & Evaluation Report

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The Defense Department has released its annual Department of Office of the Director, Operational Test & Evaluation (DOT&E) on Jan. 29. The report catalogues major U.S. weapons systems and presents an assessment of the all the service’s acquisitions that can tend to be highly critical.
The service’s often contest the findings of DOT&E as dated criticisms or a reiteration of known ongoing problems with weapon’s programs. Read More

Document: House Letter In Support of 11 Carrier Navy

Document: House Letter In Support of 11 Carrier Navy

USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) in 2013. US Navy Photo

USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) in 2013. US Navy Photo

The following is a letter from members of the House Armed Services Committee to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel in support of an 11 carrier U.S. Navy. The U.S. is obligated to maintain an 11 carrier fleet under law. Read More

Navy's F-35C Completes Landing Tests Ahead of October Sea Trials

Navy’s F-35C Completes Landing Tests Ahead of October Sea Trials

Navy F-35C test plane CF-3 successfully catches a wire during testing at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. Lockheed Martin Photo

Navy F-35C test plane CF-3 successfully catches a wire during testing at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. Lockheed Martin Photo

The U.S. Navy’s carrier-based version of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter is nearing October sea trials after completing shore-based testing at Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst, New Jersey, to ensure compatibility with shipboard arresting gear. Read More