Category Archives: Aviation

SNA 2014: Navy Eyes Next Generation Fire Scout for LCS

SNA 2014: Navy Eyes Next Generation Fire Scout for LCS

An MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned aerial vehicle takes off from Naval Base Ventura County at Point Mugu on Oct. 31, 2013. US Navy Photo

An MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned aerial vehicle takes off from Naval Base Ventura County at Point Mugu on Oct. 31, 2013. US Navy Photo

Navy leaders are considering options to field the Northrop Grumman MQ-8C —the newest version of the Fire Scout unmanned aircraft aboard the service’s Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) fleet.

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Navy Identifies Missing Pilot from Sea Dragon Crash

Navy Identifies Missing Pilot from Sea Dragon Crash

MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter assigned to Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 14 conducts practice MK-105 mine countermeasure operations in the Chesapeake Bay in 2011. US Navy Photo

MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter assigned to Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 14 conducts practice MK-105 mine countermeasure operations in the Chesapeake Bay in 2011. US Navy Photo

The Navy has identified the missing pilot from the Wednesday crash of a MH-53E Sea Dragon crash off the coast of Virginia Beach, Va. Read More

Document: Nonstrategic Nuclear Weapons

Document: Nonstrategic Nuclear Weapons

US-Russia-Flags-570x329The following is from the Jan. 3, 2014 Congressional Research Service report: Nonstrategic Nuclear Weapons.

The FY2013 Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 4310, Section 1037) indicates that it is the sense of Congress that “the United States should pursue negotiations with the Russian Federation aimed at the reduction of Russian deployed and nondeployed nonstrategic nuclear forces.” The United States and Russia have not included limits on these weapons in past arms control agreements. Nevertheless, some analysts and Members of Congress have argued that disparities in the numbers of nonstrategic nuclear weapons may become more important as the United States and Russia reduce their numbers of deployed long-range, strategic nuclear weapons. Read More

Updated: Two Dead, One Missing Following Navy Helo Crash

Updated: Two Dead, One Missing Following Navy Helo Crash

MH-53E Seadragon Assigned to HM-14 Vanguard in 2009. US Navy Photo

MH-53E Seadragon Assigned to HM-14 Vanguard in 2009. US Navy Photo

Two sailors are dead, one is missing and two are hospitalized following the crash of a MH-53E Sea Dragon off the coast of Virginia Beach, Va. on Wednesday morning.

“Two crew members remain hospitalized at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. One is listed in serious condition and the other has been upgraded to fair condition,” Naval Air Force Atlantic said in a statement provided to USNI News.
“The search for the fifth crew member is continuing.”

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The Need for Unmanned Aircraft in Modern Warfare

The Need for Unmanned Aircraft in Modern Warfare

Reaper patrols Iraq sky

MQ-9 Reaper. US Air Force Photo

As potent weapons as they have been in the years since the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, unmanned aircraft — or drones as they are colloquially known — will have to evolve as the U.S. moves to counter rising challenges in the Western Pacific. Read More

Document: Pentagon's Unmanned Systems Roadmap

Document: Pentagon’s Unmanned Systems Roadmap

Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton. US Navy Photo

Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton. US Navy Photo

The following is from the Department of Defense’s Unmanned Systems Integrated Roadmap: Fiscal Years 2013 to 2038.

Unmanned systems continue to deliver new and enhanced battlefield capabilities to the warfighter. While the demand for unmanned systems continues unabated today, a number of factors will influence unmanned program development in the future. Read More