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Lockheed Martin Demonstrates LRASM Launch Capability from Topside Canister

Lockheed Martin successfully conducted the first-ever launch of the

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surface-launch variant from a topside canister

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Jura said:

now I watched VIDEO: USS Gerald R. Ford Conducts First Arrested Landing, Catapult Launch

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Jura said:

Today at 8:37 AM
now found a related vid on youtube:

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Navy officials wasted no time putting the newly commissioned aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford and her new flight deck technology to the test — putting fears to rest about the ship’s new high-tech gear’s performance.

The ship left Norfolk Friday and, off the Virginia coast, conducted the ship’s first arrested aircraft landing or “trap,” followed 87 minutes later by the the first ever catapult-shot launch according to a Friday night release from Naval Air Forces Atlantic.

Not only were the milestones the ship’s first fixed-wing flight operations at sea, it was also the first shipboard test of the two new flight deck systems, the Advanced Arresting Gear, known as AAG and Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System, or EMALS.

Both systems had been plagued with difficulties in development. But by the end of the afternoon, the ship had accomplished four successful arrested landings and catapult shots.

“Today, USS Gerald R. Ford made history with the successful landing and launching of aircraft from VX-23 using the AAG and EMALS,” said Adm. Phil Davidson, commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, said in the release.

“Great work by the Ford team and all the engineers who have worked hard to get the ship ready for this milestone.

The EMALS and AAG technology uses a surge of electromagnetic energy to power the catapult and landing systems, replacing the steam-piston-powered system used by the legacy Nimitz-class aircraft carriers.


Navy officials say the electromagnetic technology will be easier to maintain for sailors aboard the ship and will provide a smoother acceleration for launch that will put less stress on aircraft air frames.

The system was criticized earlier this hear by

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who said the new technology was ”no good” and the Navy should return to ”goddamnn steam.”

The pilot who conducted the test was Lt. Cmdr. Jamie Struck of Tallmedge, Ohio, and his F/A-18F Super Hornet from the Naval Air Station Patuxent River-based Air Test and Evaluation 23. Tallmedge caught the number 2 arresting wire of Ford’s advanced arresting gear system, and was launched from catapult 1 using the electromagnetic launch system.

“AAG and EMALS have been successfully tested ashore at Lakehurst, New Jersey, but this is the first shipboard recovery and launch of a fleet fixed wing aircraft,” said Capt. Rick McCormack, Ford’s commanding officer.

“My team has worked closely with industry, Naval Air Systems Command, and the flight test community to make this historic event in Naval aviation happen. I am very proud of my crew.

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Jura said:

Today at 1:09 PM

and here's what NavyTimes had to say
EMALS works! Carrier Ford completes first flight operations

6 hours ago

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US newest DDG commissioned in San Diego

The newest Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, DDG 115, is named for U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Rafael Peralta from San Diego, who was killed in 2004 in Iraq and posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for heroism.

Peralta smothered an enemy grenade with his body to absorb the majority of the lethal blast and shrapnel and saved the life of two U.S. soldiers with him in the battle of Fallujah.

USS Rafael Peralta is the 65th Arleigh Burke class destroyer. It is equipped with the Aegis Baseline 9 Combat System which includes an Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) capability incorporating Ballistic Missile Defense 5.0 Capability Upgrade and Naval Integrated Fire Control-Counter Air capability.

The ship's IAMD radar will provide increased computing power and radar upgrades that improve detection and reaction capabilities against modern air warfare threats, according to the website of U.S. Navy.

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Jura said:

so far so good
Coast Guard: Missile Test Could Be Held Next Weekend

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now they need to hit though

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The U.S. successfully conducted a missile defense test Sunday using a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system in Alaska, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) said in a statement.

The U.S. Air Force launched a medium-range ballistic missile over the Pacific Ocean, and the THAAD system -- in Kodiak, Alaska -- "detected, tracked and intercepted the target," according to the MDA's statement.

Sunday's test marked the 15th successful intercept out of 15 THAAD tests, and it was carried out to collect "threat data" from an interceptor, the MDA said.

The data collected will improve the Missile Defense Agency's "ability to stay ahead of the evolving threat," MDA Director Lt. Gen. Sam Greaves said in the agency's statement.

The THAAD test follows

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's second test-launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which took place late Friday night. North Korea's first ICBM test was conducted on July 4 -- a launch that former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Bill Richardson, described to CBS News as a "game changer" because Kim Jong Un is "basically saying to President Trump 'come at me.'"

In direct response to both launches,

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flew over the Korean Peninsula over the weekend. The mission was "in response to North Korea's ballistic missile and nuclear programs," and "part of the continuing demonstration of ironclad U.S. commitment to our allies," U.S. Pacific Air Forces said in a statement.

"North Korea remains the most urgent threat to regional stability," Gen. Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy, Pacific Air Forces commander, said in the statement. "Diplomacy remains the lead; however, we have a responsibility to our allies and our nation to showcase our unwavering commitment while planning for the worst-case scenario."

"If called upon, we are ready to respond with rapid, lethal, and overwhelming force at a time and place of our choosing," he added.

Earlier this year, the

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in South Korea. It is now operating and can defend against

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, the U.S. military said in May.

The THAAD weapons system is strictly for defensive measures and uses "hit-to-kill technology" to destroy targets, the MDA said.

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