Aviation defence industry technology
 
 

Russia trains joint fighter jet, drone operation

The Russian Defense Ministry for the first time demonstrated the footage of joint actions of Su-57 fighter jet and Okhotnik S-70 drone. 
The operational link between manned and unmanned craft is a prospective and inevitable development guideline. Russian and foreign experts believe the sixth generation of fighter jets will be fully unmanned or optionally piloted, the Izvestia daily writes.

IAF operates upgraded MiG-21 fighter jets

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has upgraded its Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 (NATO reporting name: Fishbed) fighter jets, according to the military service’s official website.

Russia invests in modernization of Mi-24 helicopter

Russia’s aerospace industry is continuing modernizing the Mil Mi-24 (NATO reporting name: Hind) combat-transport rotorcraft, according to the state corporation Rostec.

Northrop Grumman Common Infrared Countermeasure systems enters operational testing

Northrop Grumman Corporation’s Common Infrared Countermeasure (CIRCM) systems for U.S. Army’s aircraft has entered Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E).

DARPA’s OFFensive Swarm-Enabled Tactics (OFFSET) program

DARPA’s OFFensive Swarm-Enabled Tactics (OFFSET) program envisions future small-unit infantry forces using swarms comprising upwards of 250 unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) and/or unmanned ground systems (UGSs) to accomplish diverse missions in complex urban environments. By leveraging and combining emerging technologies in swarm autonomy and human-swarm teaming, the program seeks to enable rapid development and deployment of breakthrough capabilities.

Russia upgrades Su-25 assault jets - part 2

The overhaul and upgrade of Su-25 assault jets accomplished by the enterprises of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) extend their life cycle and provide new modern combat capabilities. The combat effectiveness of an upgraded Su-25SM3 increased three times, the UAC said.

Russia upgrades Su-25 assault jets - part 1

The overhaul and upgrade of Su-25 assault jets accomplished by the enterprises of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) extend their life cycle and provide new modern combat capabilities. The combat effectiveness of an upgraded Su-25SM3 increased three times, the UAC said.

Russia and USA lead in hypersonic technologies

US national security adviser John Bolton accused Russia of stealing hypersonic technologies. He claimed the Russian hypersonic designs are based on stolen US technologies. Borrowed technologies were the basis of many designs on both sides of the Atlantic during the Cold War. The Izvestia daily offers the story of hypersonic design.

Russia and US develop new strategic bomber projects - part 2

Building specialised machines for use of one particular type of munition, as during the cold war, is way too costly today. So the possibility of using a variety of weapons, both nuclear and non-nuclear, will be envisioned in both cases from the start. The Russian bomber, judging by some data, will have a payload of up to 30 tons, which, in association with a spacious weapons bay must ensure different operational options, including the launch of heavy supersonic anti-ship missiles, plus attachment of different auxiliary equipment for performance of reconnaissance and electronic warfare missions.

Russia and US develop new strategic bomber projects - part 1

Russia and the US have almost simultaneously started to develop new strategic bombers projects.

NASA’s X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology


The pilot of NASA’s X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology, or QueSST, aircraft will navigate the skies in a cockpit unlike any other. There won’t be a forward-facing window. It’s actually a 4K monitor that serves as the central window and allows the pilot to safely see traffic in his or her flight path, and provides additional visual aids for airport approaches, landings and takeoffs. The 4K monitor, which is part of the aircraft’s eXternal Visibility System, or XVS, displays stitched images from two cameras outside the aircraft combined with terrain data from an advanced computing system. The two portals and traditional canopy are real windows however, and help the pilot see the horizon. The displays below the XVS will provide a variety of aircraft systems and trajectory data for the pilot to safely fly.

Suggested Su-57 production pace looks realistic

The Russian Aerospace Forces are to be reinforced. Su-57 fighter jets of the fifth-generation will be procured in a major series, the Vzglyad business newspaper said.

MAGMA UAV demonstrates innovative flow control technologies

In a series of flight trials that took place in the skies above north-west Wales, the MAGMA unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) demonstrated two innovative flow control technologies which could revolutionise future aircraft design.

Robot swarms to transform US Army aviation

In future combat, US Army units may deploy a large unmanned aerial system that can serve as a mothership capable of unleashing swarms of autonomous aircraft for various missions.

Simultaneous optical and thermal tracking of airborne aircraft by Specialised Imaging

Specialised Imaging reports on how its Lightweight Optical Motion Analysis (LOMA) system has been used to optically track an aircraft for several kilometers while simultaneously capturing the thermal signature of the aircraft over the same distance.

USA: Shark skin studied to make faster aircraft

Scientists have recorded mako sharks swimming at speeds of 95km/h but it is estimated they can reach 130km/h, thanks to a host of evolutionary adaptations that let it cut through the water with minimal drag. The skin of the mako shark is being studied by the U.S. Army to help build faster aircraft, according to research presented on March 4th.

Virtual cockpit for UK military’s new high-G centrifuge

Military aircraft pilots will be able to “fly” a virtual fast jet while experiencing high levels of G-force, with the help of a new training centrifuge. The system, located at RAF Cranwell, is designed to replicate flight in jets such as the Hawk, Typhoon and new F-35 Lightning aircraft.

US Army : Electronic flight bag for the combat aviation brigade

The 1st Armored Division Combat Aviation Brigade has migrated from paper Flight Bag to Electronic Flight Bags (EFBs), which will streamline the aircrews' functionality through the use of electronic devices.

F-35B could hit service life limit by 2026

The F-35A aircraft seems unaffected but another bad surprise to the F-35 program has been discovered, hopefully without impact on the Belgian fleet. Oldest F-35B could hit service life limit in 2026.

Chinese J-20 variant may be fist two-seat stealth fighter jet

China's most advanced stealth fighter jet J-20 could be developed into a bomber, electronic warfare (EW) aircraft and a carrier-based variant, Chinese military experts said on 16 January as latest reports suggested a two-seat version of the warplane is under development, as reported by ChinaMil. Having variations that other countries do not possess will greatly expand the Chinese military's capability in an asymmetric warfare, analysts said.

DARPA's Gremlins program on Track for first Demonstration Flights in 2019

The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is progressing toward its plan to demonstrate airborne launch and recovery of multiple unmanned aerial systems (UASs), targeted for late 2019. Now in its third and final phase, the goal for the Gremlins program is to develop a full-scale technology demonstration featuring the air recovery of multiple low-cost, reusable UASs, or “gremlins.”

USAF F-16 SLEP program reaches milestone as first aircraft rolls off shop floor

The US Air Force's Ogden Air Logistics Complex reached a major milestone in extending the life of one of the service’s most tested and flown multi-role fighter fleets. An Air Force Thunderbird jet is the first of what will be roughly 300 refurbished C and D model F-16’s that will roll off the shop floor of the 573rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron here after receiving multiple structure-strengthening modifications.

China building new wind tunnel for hypersonic aircraft development

China is building a world-leading hypersonic wind tunnel to test hypersonic aircraft that can travel at speeds of Mach 25 (30,627kph), media reported, saying it will aid the development of future spacecraft that can transport people or payloads into space at far less cost.

DARPA's new ViSAR radar system completes flight tests campaign

DARPA's new ViSAR radar system completes flight tests campaign
 
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The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Video Synthetic Aperture Radar (ViSAR) program recently completed flight tests, successfully demonstrating a new sensor that can capture real-time video through clouds, the agency said on Sept. 28, 2017.
 

US Air Force labs successfully test advanced UAV engine

US Air Force labs successfully test advanced UAV engine
 
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The US Air Force Research Laboratory Advanced Power Technology Office, along with Engineered Propulsion Systems and the Arnold Engineering and Development Center, recently concluded ground-based testing of an advanced diesel engine that promises to increase the utility and ease the logistics burden of military aircraft missions, the Lab press office said on Aug. 11.
 

TsAGI progressing towards light convertible aircraft test trials

TsAGI progressing towards light convertible aircraft test trials
 
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Experts of the Zhukovsky Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute (TsAGI) completed another cycle of test trials of the model of a light convertible aircraft. They were held in the wind-tunnel small-speed T-102 facility of TsAGI in the framework of the state contract with the Russian Industry and Trade Ministry, TsAGI press service said.
 

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