US Air Force: Discussion and News

US Military Unveils Swarm of Drones Fired Out of Fighter Jets' Flare Dispensers

The Pentagon’s Strategic Capabilities Office continues to perfect drone swarm technology featuring micro-UAVs that are fired out from fighter jets to distract and attack adversaries.

The US military’s low-cost miniature UAV program just became a lot more interesting with the concept of integrating the platforms with fighter jets that unleash a swarm of drones like bees from a hive perhaps explaining why the US Navy has called their branch of the larger project LOCUST.

https://sputniknews.com/military/20160910/1045179851/pentagon-drone-swarm-fighter-jet.html

It looks like there's been significant change in western planning, less on Uber-stealth fighters/bombers and more on cheap disposable drones to overwhelm the adversary, we've seen MALD, JSOW & HARM combo and now this LOCUST thing, these also explain the recent focus on new EW systems from Russia, what do you guys think, doom and gloom or minor annoyance?

AlfaT8 wrote:

US Military Unveils Swarm of Drones Fired Out of Fighter Jets' Flare Dispensers

The Pentagon’s Strategic Capabilities Office continues to perfect drone swarm technology featuring micro-UAVs that are fired out from fighter jets to distract and attack adversaries.

The US military’s low-cost miniature UAV program just became a lot more interesting with the concept of integrating the platforms with fighter jets that unleash a swarm of drones like bees from a hive perhaps explaining why the US Navy has called their branch of the larger project LOCUST.

https://sputniknews.com/military/20160910/1045179851/pentagon-drone-swarm-fighter-jet.html

It looks like there's been significant change in western planning, less on Uber-stealth fighters/bombers and more on cheap disposable drones to overwhelm the adversary, we've seen MALD, JSOW & HARM combo and now this LOCUST thing, these also explain the recent focus on new EW systems from Russia, what do you guys think, doom and gloom or minor annoyance?

It's a serious threat to lesser militaries, but a grossly-exaggerated threat towards Russia. While they have the advantage of numbers, those drones will be incredibly dumb and easily defeated with even Soviet-era ECM systems. For example the RQ-170 was defeated by an export version of the Soviet-era 'Autobaza' sold to Iran, and the RQ-170 is exponentially more advanced than these drones.

Presented by Boeing training aircraft for the T-X program





http://bmpd.livejournal.com/2126736.html

Boeing, Saab unveil proposal for US Air Force’s T-X trainer

http://echelon-defense.com/2016/09/14/boeing-saab-unveil-proposal-for-us-air-forces-t-x-trainer-jet/

Air raid sirens, military jets taking off, artillery fire heard from a distance.

More about this here:

http://www.morningnewsusa.com/ww3-alert-air-raid-sirens-in-san-diego-tacoma-canada-tweets-and-video-23112768.html



Someone who commented on this at another forum claimed that he has lived in San Diego for many years, but that is the first time ever that air raid sirens were heard.

Might be from VT but it is the kind of article that they are good at.


The US Air Force says a severe shortage of fighter pilots and aircraft has made the force nearly unable to satisfy combat requirements abroad.

The USAF is currently authorized to hire 3,500 fighter pilots but it is 752 pilots short, Voice of America (VOA) reported Monday, citing Major General Scott Vander Hamm, who is tasked with fixing the pilot crisis. The force has also shrunk in size over the past years, having only 55 squadrons in 2016, compared to 134 in 1986. “We have too few squadrons to meet the combatant commanders’ needs,” Vander Hamm said.

The acute shortage has reduced the USAF’s ability to accomplish missions at home and abroad by at least 20 percent over the past decade, the report noted. The US has been carrying out airstrikes in a significant number of countries over the past years, including Syria, Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

However, Vander Hamm said the shortage has started taking its toll and the force might need to “take some degradations in the frontline squadrons” come next year. “What that would mean to us is that we would have to accept not being able to get forces to theater in the same time we could, which to a warfighter, that means it could cost lives in a conflict,” he explained.

Given the technological advances of fighter jets over the years, it would take years to train pilots who can deal with combat situations. Although the number of pilots trained by the USAF in 2016 increased by about 135 compared to two years ago, the number of pilots who left the force was much bigger.

According to Vander Hamm, this year only 40 percent of American pilots accepted the bonus payment that the air force gives them after 10 years as an incentive to stay.

The report noted that the shortage has led to longer and more frequent deployments overseas, destroying the morale of the pilots.

“We were on 45-day rotations. Then they made it 90-day rotations. Then they made it 120-day rotations. Now it’s six-month rotations with one-year rotations sprinkled on top of it for key positions,” said an F-22 pilot, who asked to remain anonymous.

The Air Force has asked Congress to increase the bonus from $25,000 per year to $48,000 per year as an attempt to keep the remaining pilots.

http://www.veteranstoday.com/2016/11/28/us-air-force-pilot-shortage-hits-bombing-for-wall-street-loses-its-appeal/

US Air Force Wants More Than $10 Billion in New Aircraft Purchases

The US Air Force is seeking funding for additional F-35 jets and an experimental light attack aircraft program, pushing the unfunded requirements on their 2017 wish list to $10.6 billion.

Congress has extended the service’s funding until April, instead of passing a defense spending bill for 2017, giving the GOP-controlled legislative branch and the White House time to decide how to direct the budget for the rest of the fiscal year.

The service restored funding for eight C-130Js and five F-35s, in its original $7.2 billion list of unfunded priorities. These were cut from 2017’s fiscal budget request, but the new list calls for two MC-130Js, 11 C-130Js, an HC-130J, and doubles the number of F-35As the force would find, if it can get the money.

Some line items reflect new priorities for the service, like an $8 million experimental light attack aircraft program that could signal future Light Attack/Armed Reconnaissance OA-X development.

After a January incident at Minot Air Force Base, in which a B-52 lost an engine mid-flight during a training exercise, the force added $10 million for a re-engining risk-reduction study for the aging bomber.

According to Defense News, the force also added $63 million to modify the EC-130H Compass Call, $120 million for its Operational Control System (OCX) program, and about $51 million to fund the new Nuclear Command, Control and Communications program office’s manpower requirements.

https://sputniknews.com/military/201702011050217496-air-force-wants-billions-aircraft/

Boeing and Leonardo debut the MH-139, their bid for the Huey replacement

http://www.defensenews.com/articles/boeing-and-leonardo-debut-the-mh-139-their-bid-for-the-huey-replacement

George1 wrote:Boeing and Leonardo debut the MH-139, their bid for the Huey replacement

http://www.defensenews.com/articles/boeing-and-leonardo-debut-the-mh-139-their-bid-for-the-huey-replacement

"Leonardo"???...... somebody's wayy to full of themselves.

Contract for the modernization of F-16 fighters of the US National Guard Air Force

On May 31, 2017, the US Department of Defense awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation a $ 243.873277 million contract for the delivery of 72 sets of the AN/APG-83 airborne radar with an active phased array antenna (AFAR) to upgrade 72 Lockheed fighters Martin F-16C/D US Army National Guard. The radar should be delivered by January 31, 2019.

http://bmpd.livejournal.com/2663238.html

The EC-130J is the one in the background with the X antenna on its tail. From Wiki

The EC-130J Commando Solo is a modified C-130J Hercules used to conduct psychological operations (PSYOP) and civil affairs broadcast missions in the standard AM, FM, HF, TV and military communications bands. Missions are flown at the maximum altitudes possible to ensure optimum propagation patterns. The EC-130J flies during either day or night scenarios with equal success, and is air-refuelable. A typical mission consists of a single-ship orbit which is offset from the desired target audience. The targets may be either military or civilian personnel.

The EC-130H Compass Call aircraft attempts to disrupt enemy command and control communications and limits adversary coordination essential for enemy force management. The Compass Call system employs offensive counterinformation and electronic attack capabilities in support of U.S. and Coalition tactical air, surface, and special operations forces. The EC-130H was used extensively in the Gulf War and Operation Iraqi Freedom, disrupting Iraqi communications at both the strategic and tactical levels. It has also been used in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Inherent Resolve against the Islamic State.

Joseph Trevithick‏ @FranticGoat

Rare image of an EC-130J in theater in a photo ostensibly about EC-130Hs assigned to the 386th AEW in Kuwait.

Bit of a coincidence, the replacement for that EC-130H Compass Call Hercules in the photo above has been announced

http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/14190/its-official-the-usafs-next-jamming-plane-will-be-a-gulfstream-bizjet

Black project likely

Military.com | 8 Sep 2017 | by Oriana Pawlyk and Brendan McGarry

A pilot was killed in another plane crash this week at the Nevada Test and Training Range, the Air Force said.

Lt. Col. Eric Schultz died from injuries sustained in an accident in which an aircraft crashed around 6 p.m. local time on Tuesday at the range, located about 100 miles northwest of Nellis Air Force Base, according to a release from the base issued Friday evening.

The aircraft, the type of which wasn't specified, was assigned to Air Force Materiel Command and was flying a training mission at the time of the mishap, the release states.

"Information about the type of aircraft involved is classified and not releasable," Maj. Christina Sukach, chief of public affairs for the 99 Air Base Wing at Nellis, said in an email.

http://www.military.com/daily-news/2017/09/08/airman-dies-another-plane-crash-nevada-training-range.html

JohninMK wrote:Black project likely

Military.com | 8 Sep 2017 | by Oriana Pawlyk and Brendan McGarry

A pilot was killed in another plane crash this week at the Nevada Test and Training Range, the Air Force said.

Lt. Col. Eric Schultz died from injuries sustained in an accident in which an aircraft crashed around 6 p.m. local time on Tuesday at the range, located about 100 miles northwest of Nellis Air Force Base, according to a release from the base issued Friday evening.

The aircraft, the type of which wasn't specified, was assigned to Air Force Materiel Command and was flying a training mission at the time of the mishap, the release states.

"Information about the type of aircraft involved is classified and not releasable," Maj. Christina Sukach, chief of public affairs for the 99 Air Base Wing at Nellis, said in an email.

http://www.military.com/daily-news/2017/09/08/airman-dies-another-plane-crash-nevada-training-range.html

Looks like it could possibly be their Su-27

Lara Seligman‏Verified account @laraseligman

JUST IN: Fatal Nevada crash likely involved foreign aircraft operated by USAF's secretive Red Hat unit, $ @AvWeekGuy

In the US, a new long-range air-to-air missile is being developed

According to the Flight International magazine, in the budget documents of the US Department of Defense for the fiscal year 2018, the secret program Long-Range Engagement Weapon (LREW), which is being implemented with the goal of "maintaining superiority in the air" and being a project to create a new air- air "of long range.

https://bmpd.livejournal.com/2932005.html

U.S. Air Force has a Shortage of 2 000 Pilots.


USAF colonels may serve for an additional three years, and there is a shortage of some other officers.


https://americanmilitarynews.com/2018/01/air-force-colonels-nearing-mandatory-retirement-can-remain-3-more-years/

US Air Force has chosen the MH-139 helicopter to replace UH-1N

As reported on September 24, 2018 by Boeing Corporation, the US Air Force chose the multipurpose MH-139 helicopter (version of the famous Italian helicopter Leonardo AW139) proposed for it to replace the fleet of Bell UH-1N Huey helicopters used to provide security for US land-based strategic missile systems of mine base.



https://bmpd.livejournal.com/3353855.html

US F-117A aircraft deployed again in Middle East





https://bmpd.livejournal.com/3555776.html

I thought they retired them in 2008?

Of course that was supposed to be to save money, but if they are still using some then it is pretty clear saving money had nothing to do with it.... more like shame.... it is the clean-anything carpet shampoo that failed to clean up dog poo... at a really big important party and everyone saw the stain...

Looks cool

GarryB wrote:I thought they retired them in 2008?

Of course that was supposed to be to save money, but if they are still using some then it is pretty clear saving money had nothing to do with it.... more like shame.... it is the clean-anything carpet shampoo that failed to clean up dog poo... at a really big important party and everyone saw the stain...

They have been seen flying in the US last few years on occasion. Some info was that 5 borts remained serviceable for equipment testing etc.

US Air Force defends F-15X buy to skeptical Inhofe, Reed

WASHINGTON — U.S. Air Force officials on Thursday defended their reversal to pursue Boeing’s F-15X, a fourth-generation fighter jet, saying it will not derail plans to buy Lockheed Martin’s F-35, a fifth-generation fighter jet.

At a Senate Armed Services Committee on the Air Force’s fiscal 2020 budget request, the service’s top official said the decision to seek eight F-15X aircraft is a short-term patch, as 800 fewer F-35s are operational than planned. They pitched the move as the most cost-effective way to replace the retiring F-15C Eagle, using the same hangers, equipment and maintainers.

“We absolutely [are] adamant that the F-35 program, the program of record, absolutely stays on track and we don’t take a dime out of the F-35,” said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein, calling the jet the “quarterback of the joint penetrating team.”

Goldfein also reassured lawmakers who recalled the cancellation of Lockheed’s fifth-generation F-22 Raptor that there would be no repeat. The plan is still for its fleet to be made up of 80% fifth-generation aircraft by the 2040s, he said.

Both the panel’s chairman, Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., and ranking member, Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., questioned the decision, after years of strongly declining to request F-15 or F-16 funding, to ask for $1.1 billion for the F-15X in 2020. The budget includes 48 F-35s in 2020 and $7.9 billion for 80 F-15s over five years.

“It seems to me that we’re getting back into the fourth generation that we’re hoping to be out of,” Inhofe said. “Sometimes we forget what happened to our F-22s. Started out that was going to be 750, ended up being 187, and we paid dearly for that ever since then. That was a huge mistake, should not have happened.”

After the hearing, Inhofe told reporters that Air Force officials were defending an approach they did not agree with. “They didn’t like it any better than I like it. You don’t expand your force by going from a fifth generation to the fourth generation, which is essentially what your doing,” Inhofe said.

https://www.defensenews.com/congress/2019/04/04/usaf-defends-f-15x-buy-to-skeptical-inhofe-reed/