ENVG-B – latest iteration of night vision goggles offer augmented reality, stereo vision, white lines

The ENVG-B is a helmet-mounted, dual-waveband goggle with industry-leading, fused white phosphor and thermal technologies. […] Flexible 40 Field-Of-View with options of white-hot, black-hot and outline modes […] Augmented Reality Soldiers keep eyes on target without having to look down to read maps or check radios for critical information. High-resolution goggle display Data display includes Read more about ENVG-B – latest iteration of night vision goggles offer augmented reality, stereo vision, white lines[…]

F-22 And F-35 Datalinks *Finally* Talk Freely With Each Other Thanks To A U-2 Flying Translator

Five F-35A Joint Strike Fighters and a single F-22 Raptor “talked” with each other using their proprietary stealthy datalinks via a U-2S Dragon Lady spy plane carrying a specialized communications gateway payload, during a recent demonstration. This marks the first time that the Air Force’s two stealth fighters were able to exchange data freely in Read more about F-22 And F-35 Datalinks *Finally* Talk Freely With Each Other Thanks To A U-2 Flying Translator[…]

Superspreaders of Malign and Subversive Information on COVID-19: Russian and Chinese Efforts Targeting the United States

Both Russia and China appear to have employed information manipulation during the COVID-19 pandemic in service to their respective global agendas. This report uses exploratory qualitative analysis to systematically describe the types of COVID-19-related malign and subversive information efforts with which Russia- and China-associated outlets appear to have targeted U.S. audiences from January 2020 to Read more about Superspreaders of Malign and Subversive Information on COVID-19: Russian and Chinese Efforts Targeting the United States[…]

Project FoX Brings Avionics + Sensor Data to Commercial Computer Tablets In F-35 Stealth Fighter Cockpits

The U.S. Air Force has, for the first time, live-streamed data directly from the F-35A stealth fighter and onto a commercial computer tablet in the cockpit, during ground tests at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. The March 31 trial, part of the Fighter Optimization eXperiment, or FoX, demonstrated that data from the jet could Read more about Project FoX Brings Avionics + Sensor Data to Commercial Computer Tablets In F-35 Stealth Fighter Cockpits[…]

Belgium’s Hard-Worked F-16 with P&W F100 engines Fighter Fleet Has Just Been Grounded

Belgium’s entire fleet of F-16 fighter jets, the backbone of its combat air force, has been grounded since yesterday after one of the Vipers experienced problems with its Pratt & Whitney F100 engine. As of today, the air defense of the European country has now been taken over by the neighboring Netherlands. “While technicians work Read more about Belgium’s Hard-Worked F-16 with P&W F100 engines Fighter Fleet Has Just Been Grounded[…]

Construction Of A Large Runway Suddenly Appears On Highly Strategic Island In The Red Sea

Satellite imagery shows that, earlier this year, construction began on a new, approximately 6,150-foot-long runway on Perim, an island right in the middle of the highly strategic Bab Al Mandeb Strait, which links the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. In addition to its location inside this critical maritime junction, which is an important Read more about Construction Of A Large Runway Suddenly Appears On Highly Strategic Island In The Red Sea[…]

GPS jamming around Cyprus gives our air traffic controllers a headache, says Eurocontrol

[…] Jamming of the essential navigational satellite signal has caused enough headaches for the EU air traffic control organisation to prompt an investigation, complete with an instrumented aircraft designed to detect signs of GPS jamming. Airliners rely on GPS to a great extent, and air traffic management (the science of making sure airliners don’t come Read more about GPS jamming around Cyprus gives our air traffic controllers a headache, says Eurocontrol[…]

British Troops Get Small Swarming Drones They Can Fire From 40mm Grenade Launchers

British Army troops in Mali are now reportedly using tiny unmanned aircraft that can be fired from standard 40mm grenade launchers. These diminutive quad-copter-type drones can be fitted with various payloads, ranging from full-motion electro-optical video cameras to small high-explosive or armor-piercing warheads, and that can fly together as a swarm after launch. Overt Defense Read more about British Troops Get Small Swarming Drones They Can Fire From 40mm Grenade Launchers[…]

Air Force Says KC-46 Is A “Lemon” That It’s Trying To Make Lemonade Out Of

The U.S. Air Force has described its bedeviled KC-46A Pegasus tanker as a “lemon,” amid ongoing problems that prevent it from performing its primary aerial refueling mission on a day-to-day basis. Now the Air Force is trying to find other ways to make use of these aircraft, of which it has already received 42 examples Read more about Air Force Says KC-46 Is A “Lemon” That It’s Trying To Make Lemonade Out Of[…]

£30-million injection for UK’s first uncrewed fighter aircraft

The uncrewed combat aircraft will be designed to fly at high-speed alongside fighter jets, armed with missiles, surveillance and electronic warfare technology to provide a battle-winning advantage over hostile forces. Known as a ‘loyal wingman’, these aircraft will be the UK’s first uncrewed platforms able to target and shoot down enemy aircraft and survive against Read more about £30-million injection for UK’s first uncrewed fighter aircraft[…]

Pentagon Puts F-35 Full-Rate Production Decision On Hold

In a setback for the Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighter program, the U.S. Department of Defense has formally decreed that a decision on full-rate production of the jet is on indefinite hold. The Milestone C decision on whether or not to ramp up the manufacture of Joint Strike Fighters had been due in or before Read more about Pentagon Puts F-35 Full-Rate Production Decision On Hold[…]

Air Force Flies AI Copilot on U-2 Spy Plane in first. Very Star Wars referenced

For Star Wars fans, an X-Wing fighter isn’t complete without R2-D2. Whether you need to fire up converters, increase power, or fix a broken stabilizer, that trusty droid, full of lively beeps and squeaks, is the ultimate copilot. Teaming artificial intelligence (AI) with pilots is no longer just a matter for science fiction or blockbuster Read more about Air Force Flies AI Copilot on U-2 Spy Plane in first. Very Star Wars referenced[…]

NSA Spied On Denmark As It Chose Its Future Fighter Aircraft: Report – also FR, NL, DE, NO, SE

Reports in the Danish media allege that the United States spied on the country’s government and its defense industry, as well as other European defense contractors, in an attempt to gain information on its fighter acquisition program. The revelations, published online by DR, Denmark’s Danish public-service broadcaster, concern the run-up to the fighter competition that Read more about NSA Spied On Denmark As It Chose Its Future Fighter Aircraft: Report – also FR, NL, DE, NO, SE[…]

RAF Uses Autonomous Drone Swarm Loaded With Decoys To Overwhelm Mock Enemy Air Defenses

Italian defense contractor Leonardo says that it has conducted a successful demonstration in cooperation with the U.K. Royal Air Force of an autonomous swarm of unmanned aircraft, each carrying a variant of its BriteCloud expendable active decoy as an electronic warfare payload. Using the BriteClouds, which contain electronic warfare jammers, the drones were able to Read more about RAF Uses Autonomous Drone Swarm Loaded With Decoys To Overwhelm Mock Enemy Air Defenses[…]

SmartShooter ‘Automatically’ Shoots Drones Out of the Sky using Colt personal gun

The Air Force was already familiar with the possibilities of the ‘SmartShooter’ smart aiming system. The only thing that was unknown was whether it is also effective in combination with the Colt C7 5.56mm long-range automatic rifle. Operation The system uses video analysis. A shooter aims his weapon at the target with the SmartShooter. So Read more about SmartShooter ‘Automatically’ Shoots Drones Out of the Sky using Colt personal gun[…]

British Army develops AI shotgun drone with machine vision for indoor use

The British Army has reportedly developed AI-equipped killer drones armed with twin-linked shotguns designed for blasting enemies of the Queen hiding inside buildings. As if that wasn’t terrifying enough, the Army is already looking at strapping a chain gun or rocket launcher to its i9 drone instead of the shotguns, according to The Times. “It Read more about British Army develops AI shotgun drone with machine vision for indoor use[…]

The Air Force Has Already Flown a Secret Plane That Could Be Its Next Fighter

The U.S. Air Force has quietly built and flown a brand-new aircraft prototype that could become its next-generation fighter, the service’s top acquisition official announced Tuesday. Dr. Will Roper, assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology and logistics, revealed during the virtual 2020 Air, Space and Cyber conference that the new aircraft is Read more about The Air Force Has Already Flown a Secret Plane That Could Be Its Next Fighter[…]

The F-35 Lightning II can’t fly in lightning once again

The most widely used variant of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is currently unable to fly in thunderstorms after the discovery of damage to one of the systems it uses to protect itself from lightning, its prime contractor Lockheed Martin said Wednesday. To safely fly in conditions where lightning is present, the F-35 relies on Read more about The F-35 Lightning II can’t fly in lightning once again[…]

India flies Mach 6 scramjet for 20 seconds

India claims it flew a perfect scramjet test at Mach 6 on Monday. A government announcement says the vehicle hitched a ride on a rocket that ascended to an altitude of 30km before launching the “Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle “The cruise vehicle separated from the launch vehicle and the air intake opened as planned. The Read more about India flies Mach 6 scramjet for 20 seconds[…]

Brain-Computer Interfaces: U.S. Military Applications and Implications, An Initial Assessment

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has invested in the development of technologies that allow the human brain to communicate directly with machines, including the development of implantable neural interfaces able to transfer data between the human brain and the digital world. This technology, known as brain-computer interface (BCI), may eventually be used to monitor Read more about Brain-Computer Interfaces: U.S. Military Applications and Implications, An Initial Assessment[…]

Russia tested satellite-to-satellite shooter, say UK and USA

The USA and UK have alleged that Russia last week trialled an in-orbit satellite-killer weapon. US Space Force chief of operations General John Raymond put his name to a statement that says on July 15th Russia “injected a new object into orbit from Cosmos 2543”, a satellite that Moscow insists is a maintenance vehicle but Read more about Russia tested satellite-to-satellite shooter, say UK and USA[…]

US Navy wants to reinstate fired captain of coronavirus-hit aircraft carrier as another destroyer has a breakout of covid-19

In an extraordinary reversal, the U.S. Navy has recommended reinstating the fired captain of the coronavirus-hit aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt, whose crew hailed him as their hero for risking his job to safeguard their lives, officials said on Friday. The Navy’s leadership made the recommendation to reinstate Captain Brett Crozier to Defense Secretary Mark Esper Read more about US Navy wants to reinstate fired captain of coronavirus-hit aircraft carrier as another destroyer has a breakout of covid-19[…]

US Navy flies two EA-18G Growlers autonomously; third Growler used as controller

The US Navy (USN) flew two Boeing EA-18G Growlers as autonomous unmanned air vehicles (UAVs), using a third Growler as a flight controller. In total, four flights were conducted at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, with tests starting in September 2019, says manufacturer Boeing on 4 February. The aircraft demonstrated 21 missions during flights that Read more about US Navy flies two EA-18G Growlers autonomously; third Growler used as controller[…]

Turkey’s Killer Drone Swarm Poses Syria Air Challenge to Putin

The retaliation for the killing last week of 33 Turkish soldiers by Syrian forces involved an unprecedented number of drones in coordinated action, said the senior official in Turkey with direct knowledge of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Syria policy. It was the first time a country had commanded the air space over such a large Read more about Turkey’s Killer Drone Swarm Poses Syria Air Challenge to Putin[…]