US Military News, Reports, Data, etc.
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maozedong
Banned Idiot
April 29, in Iraq, Sadr City in eastern Baghdad, local residents in the U.S. air strikes in the removal of rubble remains of the victims. It is reported that in the past 24 hours, the U.S. military in Iraq and the Iraqi security forces and the militants exchanged fire has caused at least 45 people were killed. Xinhua / AFP
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What does China-baiting mean? And does anyone know which candidate is more friendly toward Taiwan??
When I say China-baiting I mean saying negative things about China, and blaming China for "taking American jobs", rising gas prices, etc. Playing to nativist fears. It doesn't matter now. She's out of the running anyway. I would guess McCain is more pro-Taiwan than Obama because he is somewhat of a hawk on foreign policy and Obama hasn't said anything about it as far as I know.
USAF Forms Expeditionary Wing with Predator, Reaper UAVs
(Source: U.S Air Force; issued June 2, 2008)
CREECH AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. --- The 432nd Wing here that flies the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles was designated an air expeditionary wing by Air Combat Command officials in May.
The wing will now have dual reporting responsibilities to 9th Air Force and U.S. Air Forces Central at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., as well as to 12th Air Force and U.S. Air Forces Southern at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
The wing remains the Air Force's primary training installation for unmanned aircraft systems pilots, sensor operators and maintenance personnel. That mission will remain under the purview of officials from 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern).
"Our MQ-1 and MQ-9 crew training is the key enabler allowing us and our (Air Force Special Operations Command), British and Air National Guard partners to execute our combat mission," said Col. Chris Chambliss, the 432nd AEW commander. "Standing up the AEW will not detract one bit from our training requirement."
Members of the 432nd Wing's 15th Reconnaissance Squadron first deployed Predators in support of operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, respectively, in 2004. Since then, six additional combat squadrons, including four distributed Air National Guard units, have been activated. The 15th RS, later the 15th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, had maintained operational control of the combat air patrols flown by these units.
"The combination of three active duty and four Air National Guard units, as well as AFSOC and our British coalition partners, all executing daily combat missions in support of U.S. Central Command, had grown beyond the appropriate scope of the original mandate," Colonel Chambliss said. "Our Air Force leadership concluded that an expeditionary wing structure was needed to control these missions, synchronize efforts and be responsible to the 9th (Air Expeditionary Task Force) commander."
The wing's maintenance operations and organization will also be affected by the designation, Colonel Chambliss said.
"There had never been a provision for command and control of continental United States maintenance support," Colonel Chambliss said. "While some maintainers have been deploying forward as attached expeditionary units that support launching and recovering MQ-1 and MQ-9 combat missions, many more remain here to maintain the equipment used to execute the (remote split operations) mission. These maintainers will now be directly aligned to our expeditionary mission."
(Source: U.S Air Force; issued June 2, 2008)
CREECH AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. --- The 432nd Wing here that flies the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles was designated an air expeditionary wing by Air Combat Command officials in May.
The wing will now have dual reporting responsibilities to 9th Air Force and U.S. Air Forces Central at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., as well as to 12th Air Force and U.S. Air Forces Southern at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
The wing remains the Air Force's primary training installation for unmanned aircraft systems pilots, sensor operators and maintenance personnel. That mission will remain under the purview of officials from 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern).
"Our MQ-1 and MQ-9 crew training is the key enabler allowing us and our (Air Force Special Operations Command), British and Air National Guard partners to execute our combat mission," said Col. Chris Chambliss, the 432nd AEW commander. "Standing up the AEW will not detract one bit from our training requirement."
Members of the 432nd Wing's 15th Reconnaissance Squadron first deployed Predators in support of operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, respectively, in 2004. Since then, six additional combat squadrons, including four distributed Air National Guard units, have been activated. The 15th RS, later the 15th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, had maintained operational control of the combat air patrols flown by these units.
"The combination of three active duty and four Air National Guard units, as well as AFSOC and our British coalition partners, all executing daily combat missions in support of U.S. Central Command, had grown beyond the appropriate scope of the original mandate," Colonel Chambliss said. "Our Air Force leadership concluded that an expeditionary wing structure was needed to control these missions, synchronize efforts and be responsible to the 9th (Air Expeditionary Task Force) commander."
The wing's maintenance operations and organization will also be affected by the designation, Colonel Chambliss said.
"There had never been a provision for command and control of continental United States maintenance support," Colonel Chambliss said. "While some maintainers have been deploying forward as attached expeditionary units that support launching and recovering MQ-1 and MQ-9 combat missions, many more remain here to maintain the equipment used to execute the (remote split operations) mission. These maintainers will now be directly aligned to our expeditionary mission."
The C-130J: New Hercules & Old Bottlenecks
RAAF C-130J-30, flares
Most American planes rely on the US market as their base, then seek exports. The privately-developed C-130J “Super Hercules” was different. Australia, Britain, Denmark, and Italy were all ahead of the curve, and have been operating this heavily redesigned upgrade of the popular C-130 Hercules transport aircraft for several years. By the time the C-130J finally reached “initial operating capability” for the US military late in 2006, these faster-moving foreign customers were already banding together to create a common upgrade set for their serving fleets. A number of variants are currently flying in transport (C-130J), stretched transport (C-130J-30), aerial broadcaster (EC-130J), coast guard patrol (HC-130J), aerial tanker (KC-130J), and even hurricane hunter weather aircraft (WC-130J).
Canada, India and Norway recently moved to join the global C-130J customer base. In America, meanwhile, some momentum is building. C-130J purchases are taking place under both annual budgets and supplemental wartime funding, in order to replace a US tactical transport fleet that’s flying old aircraft and in dire need of major repairs.
The C-130J program has been the focus of a great deal of controversy in America – and even of a full program restructuring in 2006. Some early concerns from critics were put to rest when the C-130J demonstrated in-theater performance on the front lines that represented a major improvement over its C-130E/H predecessors. A valid follow-on question might be: does it break the bottleneck limitations that have hobbled a number of multi-billion dollar US Army vehicle development programs?
This DID FOCUS Article describes the C-130J, examines the bottleneck issue, covers global developments for the C-130J program, and looks at present and emerging competitors. The latest news includes some maintenance program work for the Marines..
The (Private) Labors of Hercules: the C-130J
The C-130J and the 20-ton Bottleneck
Turbulent Flight: The C-130J Program
Contracts and Key Events [updated]
Additional Readings & Sources, incl. emerging competitors & Special Operations requirements
RAAF C-130J-30, flares
Most American planes rely on the US market as their base, then seek exports. The privately-developed C-130J “Super Hercules” was different. Australia, Britain, Denmark, and Italy were all ahead of the curve, and have been operating this heavily redesigned upgrade of the popular C-130 Hercules transport aircraft for several years. By the time the C-130J finally reached “initial operating capability” for the US military late in 2006, these faster-moving foreign customers were already banding together to create a common upgrade set for their serving fleets. A number of variants are currently flying in transport (C-130J), stretched transport (C-130J-30), aerial broadcaster (EC-130J), coast guard patrol (HC-130J), aerial tanker (KC-130J), and even hurricane hunter weather aircraft (WC-130J).
Canada, India and Norway recently moved to join the global C-130J customer base. In America, meanwhile, some momentum is building. C-130J purchases are taking place under both annual budgets and supplemental wartime funding, in order to replace a US tactical transport fleet that’s flying old aircraft and in dire need of major repairs.
The C-130J program has been the focus of a great deal of controversy in America – and even of a full program restructuring in 2006. Some early concerns from critics were put to rest when the C-130J demonstrated in-theater performance on the front lines that represented a major improvement over its C-130E/H predecessors. A valid follow-on question might be: does it break the bottleneck limitations that have hobbled a number of multi-billion dollar US Army vehicle development programs?
This DID FOCUS Article describes the C-130J, examines the bottleneck issue, covers global developments for the C-130J program, and looks at present and emerging competitors. The latest news includes some maintenance program work for the Marines..
The (Private) Labors of Hercules: the C-130J
The C-130J and the 20-ton Bottleneck
Turbulent Flight: The C-130J Program
Contracts and Key Events [updated]
Additional Readings & Sources, incl. emerging competitors & Special Operations requirements
i have been advocating china to do this for a long time now. even to having small carriers designed for just this purpose of using prop driven aircraft for close air support. but they have there head up there ass and can only think of jet aircraft. i could take a prop driven air group and turn them into one of the best units they could ever have. jets are crappy for close in work, keep that altitude where they belong as high air cover. the Super tacano would be a superb aircraft not only for ground based work but for small carrier work as well. Christ almighty look what the u. s. did during ww2 with them. now you jet Jocks are going to say that they didn't exist then. so it is not a fair comparison. well yes you can -- look at the results of Viet Nam for your comparison. do not say they had more jets then anything else. the Sky raiders and broncos and the rest could stay on station much longer then jets, and deliver a punishing amount of damage as well as take the punishment that jets couldn't even begin to think of taking. Oh ! well Off my soap box.----- poster note ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
US May Buy Brazilian Fighters
June 03, 2008
Associated Press
SAO PAULO, Brazil - Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer is participating in preliminary negotiations to sell the U.S. government eight 314-B1 Super Tucano light attack and training planes for use in Iraq, the company said June 2.
Embraer also confirmed that it sold one of the propeller-driven planes to a subsidiary of Blackwater Worldwide, the world's largest security contractor and the target of harsh criticism for its conduct in Iraq.
The plane maker is offering Washington the Super Tucano in a tender process opened by the U.S. government, according to an Embraer spokesman who declined to be named in keeping with company policy.
Embraer, or Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica SA, has sold 99 of the planes to the Brazilian military and 25 to neighboring Colombia's air force - mostly to fight drug trafficking along the countries' Amazon border, the spokesman said.
A light fighter like the Super Tucano - which the Brazilian military outfits with .50-caliber machine guns under each wing - could be used to patrol Iraq's borders with Iran and Syria, where the U.S. military says militants and weapons are routinely smuggled.
The U.S. has provided small planes before to the nascent Iraqi air force, which has about 1,500 personnel and 50 aircraft - mostly small propeller planes and helicopters.
The Embraer spokesman confirmed the sale of a Super Tucano to Blackwater subsidiary EP Aviation.
Brazilian law prohibits a private company from selling arms for use in existing conflicts, but the spokesman said the plane was not shipped with any armaments and was intended for training purposes in the U.S.
If the U.S. government decides to buy the Tucano from Embraer and requests that they be outfitted with weapons, at that point the Brazilian government would have to step in and negotiate the sale, the Embraer spokesman said.
Neither the foreign or defense ministries would comment on that assertion.
The plane sold to EP Aviation was bought for $4.5 million and delivered at the end of February. Records on the Web site of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that EP Aviation had registered a Super Tucano.
Blackwater, the largest private security company in the world, has been under scrutiny as a U.S. federal grand jury investigates its involvement in the shooting deaths of 17 Iraqi civilians. Blackwater also is under investigation for possible weapons smuggling allegations - accusations the company denies.
© Copyright 2008 Associated Press
US May Buy Brazilian Fighters
June 03, 2008
Associated Press
SAO PAULO, Brazil - Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer is participating in preliminary negotiations to sell the U.S. government eight 314-B1 Super Tucano light attack and training planes for use in Iraq, the company said June 2.
Embraer also confirmed that it sold one of the propeller-driven planes to a subsidiary of Blackwater Worldwide, the world's largest security contractor and the target of harsh criticism for its conduct in Iraq.
The plane maker is offering Washington the Super Tucano in a tender process opened by the U.S. government, according to an Embraer spokesman who declined to be named in keeping with company policy.
Embraer, or Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica SA, has sold 99 of the planes to the Brazilian military and 25 to neighboring Colombia's air force - mostly to fight drug trafficking along the countries' Amazon border, the spokesman said.
A light fighter like the Super Tucano - which the Brazilian military outfits with .50-caliber machine guns under each wing - could be used to patrol Iraq's borders with Iran and Syria, where the U.S. military says militants and weapons are routinely smuggled.
The U.S. has provided small planes before to the nascent Iraqi air force, which has about 1,500 personnel and 50 aircraft - mostly small propeller planes and helicopters.
The Embraer spokesman confirmed the sale of a Super Tucano to Blackwater subsidiary EP Aviation.
Brazilian law prohibits a private company from selling arms for use in existing conflicts, but the spokesman said the plane was not shipped with any armaments and was intended for training purposes in the U.S.
If the U.S. government decides to buy the Tucano from Embraer and requests that they be outfitted with weapons, at that point the Brazilian government would have to step in and negotiate the sale, the Embraer spokesman said.
Neither the foreign or defense ministries would comment on that assertion.
The plane sold to EP Aviation was bought for $4.5 million and delivered at the end of February. Records on the Web site of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that EP Aviation had registered a Super Tucano.
Blackwater, the largest private security company in the world, has been under scrutiny as a U.S. federal grand jury investigates its involvement in the shooting deaths of 17 Iraqi civilians. Blackwater also is under investigation for possible weapons smuggling allegations - accusations the company denies.
© Copyright 2008 Associated Press