Naval and Defense News

[Nikel]

Video.

Three of what will be 4 of America’s workhorse bombers, the B-2 Spirit, B-1 Bone, and the B-52 Stratofortress fly over New York to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.

https://x.com/BenjAlvarez1/status/20734 ... 10/video/1

[Nikel]

HI Sutton. Successful FP-1/FP-2 Ukrainian drones.


https://www.hisutton.com/FP-1-Drone.html

[Blast33]

South Korea's test saw 8 M167 Vulcan guns engage 50 drones, yet over half reportedly remained airborne.

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Video at: https://x.com/Defence_Index/status/2081622249015251018

[Blast33]

U.S. Navy Is Seeking A Submarine Launched Anti-Air Missile,that will arm future variants of the Virginia class submarine.
All of the members of the Naval Modular Missile (NMM) are set to be based around a common Terminal Stage Interceptor (TSI).
https://x.com/ELMObrokenWings/status/20 ... 77/photo/1

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[Nikel]

There is one German sub/weapon pair in the db that can already do that.

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https://www.bundeswehr.de/en/organizati ... 212a-idas-

[Knightpawn]

A fresh one

"Northrop Grumman introduced Raid Hunter™ as the official name for its new 50mm Gun-Based Air Defense (GBAD) system, a next-generation capability designed to strengthen short-range, layered air defense against increasingly complex aerial threats. Raid Hunter combines advanced battle management, proven Chain Gun® technology and precision-guided 50mm ammunition to help defend military bases, airfields and critical infrastructure from cruise missiles, drone swarms and other evolving threats while supporting the company’s kinetic solutions portfolio, Raid Defense™ Solutions"

https://news.northropgrumman.com/missil ... nse-system

[Blast33]

When Boeing personnel hoisted a prototype of its MQ-25 Stingray aerial refueling drone aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz in June, the high-profile visit revealed a potential expansion of its role that has long been suspected but repeatedly denied by the Pentagon.

An unpublicized test during the demonstrator’s time aboard the Nimitz armed the aircraft with a Boeing-developed GBU-75 Joint Direct Attack Munition Long Range (JDAM-LR) cruise missile, marking the first time any weapon has been publicly observed on an MQ-25 in the program’s history. The testing aboard the Nimitz came five years after a Stingray completed its first deck-based carrier trials in 2021.

The MQ-25 program, part of the Navy’s push to modernize its carrier air wings and reduce risk through greater use of uncrewed aircraft, has always been characterized by the service as an aerial refueler with a secondary intelligence gathering mission. But given its origins in a program seeking to procure long-range, uncrewed strike capability, the biggest surprise may be that weapon integration testing took this long.
https://theaircurrent.com/defense/us-na ... al-tanker/

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[Blast33]

Interesting asymmetric SEAD/ C-UAS loadout from a F-16CM from the 14th FS from PACAF taking of somewhere in the Middle-East.
https://x.com/GuyPlopsky/status/2088084495203520933

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[Blast33]

If it flies as it looks...


-Status: Full-scale demonstrator under construction
-Role: BWB technology demonstrator / future tanker & cargo
-Design: Blended-wing body
-Target: First flight ~2027
-Propulsion: 2XPratt & Whitney PW2040
-Goal: 30%+ lower aerodynamic drag, Targets a 50% reduction in fuel burn and emissions compared to conventional tube-and-wing jets while using standard, conventional turbofan engines.
Range & Capacity: Designed to seat roughly 250 passengers with a middle-of-the-market range of about 5,000 nautical miles.
-Developer: JetZero

A radically different aircraft being built to prove whether the BWB design can become the next generation of efficient cargo and aerial-refuelling aircraft.
https://x.com/PASU_MATRIX/status/2090142276668567730

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[WG]

If it flies as it looks...

I agree, that's is a beautiful aircraft. I am used to cargo planes being the most boring-looking aircraft in the sky!

[Nikel]

Chris Papakofopoulos.

Active major surface combatants procurements of EU nations.

[Nikel]

No news, but interesting.

UAVs: ISR, Deterrence and War

The IISS Strategic Dossier UAVs: ISR, Deterrence and War considers the key role of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) uninhabited aerial vehicles (UAVs) in both peace and war.

Full downloadable pdf.

https://www.iiss.org/publications/strat ... e-and-war/

[WG]

Speaking of UAVs, I was surprised to learn recently that the first use of UAVs was the Ryan Model 147 Lightning Bug during the Vietnam War.

Ryan Model 147

The United States Naval Institute Press recently published a book by David Axe on the topic.

Drone War Vietnam

I know that this is history and not news, but still fascinating.

[tylerblakebrandon]

Speaking of UAVs, I was surprised to learn recently that the first use of UAVs was the Ryan Model 147 Lightning Bug during the Vietnam War.

Ryan Model 147

The United States Naval Institute Press recently published a book by David Axe on the topic.

Drone War Vietnam

I know that this is history and not news, but still fascinating.

Let me introduce you to the Interstate TDR, with operational missions against Japan in WWII.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_TDR

[Blast33]

The German Navy completed a successful live-fire trial of IAI’s Naval LORA ballistic missile as part of its Marine 2035 OPEX initiative.

IAI press release

The missile was launched from an operational German vessel that comprises a command trailer and a launcher. Under both scenarios, the missile was launched to its trajectory, navigated its course to the target, and hit it with utmost precision. Both the weapon system and the missile successfully met all the trial’s objectives.

The Bundeswehr Navy launched OPEX, a groundbreaking initiative to pave the way toward its ‘Marine 2035 and Beyond’ plan. In so doing, it has signaled its determination to actively address both present and future security-relevant threat situations. OPEX is the German Navy’s ‘toolbox’ for promoting innovation, and for testing new approaches and technologies quickly and comprehensively, under conditions that are as realistic as possible.

NAVAL LORA is a combat-proven weapon system with accumulated operational experience, provides a maritime precision strike through a dedicated naval launcher configuration for sea-to-shore and sea-to-sea engagements. The system comprises a long-range ballistic missile, a unique launcher and command-and-control system.

Boaz Levy, IAI’s Chairman: “This is an unprecedented achievement for IAI and the Israeli Ministry of Defense. The successful trial of the LORA missile, launched from a naval vessel and striking its target with exceptional precision, took place overnight in Germany – the country where the world’s first ballistic missile was developed. This trial demonstrates Israel’s technological strength and the unique cooperation between Israel and Germany. It marks another significant achievement alongside the deployment of the Arrow 3 system on German soil, further strengthening Germany’s defense and deterrence capabilities and deepening the strategic partnership between our two countries.”

Guy Bar Lev, IAI’s CEO: “Israel Aerospace Industries is proud to take part in strengthening the strategic cooperation between the State of Israel and the Government of Germany. This significant milestone is underscored by the operational live-fire exercise (OPEX) of the LORA system, one of the world’s most advanced and combat-proven ballistic missile systems.”
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/20 ... st-firing/

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[Nikel]

Etienne Marcuz.

China Displays its Sea-Based Nuclear Deterrent

https://letstalkdeterrence.substack.com ... ed-nuclear

[Blast33]

A nice P-8A Poseidon ID card from @SR_Planespotter on X

Every image is in higher resolution from https://x.com/SR_Planespotter/status/20 ... 1449481505 downwards:

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[Blast33]

This morning, @SecAFOfficial announced the official names of the Air Force’s newest Collaborative Combat Aircraft, the FQ-42 Vengeance and FQ-44 Fury, during his keynote address at the
@AFA_Air_Space's #AFANational Conference.

Revealing popular names was a natural next step for the CCA program as the Air Force modernizes the nation’s aerial combat fleet. The Air Force intends to purchase about 1,000 combat-ready, semi-autonomous systems that will extend reach, awareness and survivability of American airpower in contested environments. Meink confirmed that the service would have 500 of the aircraft by 2032.
https://x.com/usairforce/status/2099508331110858813

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