787 at Farnborough

‘Narrow-body’ C-17 pitched for theatre lift needs

Boeing is working on a C-17 derivative to meet the needs of the US Army’s and Air Force’s Joint Future Theater Lift (JFTL) programme.

The company has put together the concept of a narrow-body version of the C-17, which Boeing is dubbing C-17FE, for ‘Fuel Efficient’, saying it would meet 99% of the JFTL requirements.

Tommy Dunehew, VP of Business Development at Boeing Global Mobility Systems, said the concept had progressed beyond the concept stage and stated that the C-17FE would have the ‘same wings, same engines and same tail’ as the C-17 but the fuselage would be several feet narrower and make use of composites to lighten the airframe.

Again with the EW/EA fallacy. Operationally it will not matter – the F-35 with not attempt a strike mission without EW/EA support – no matter how stealthy it is. One reason why the F-117A was lost over Bosnia/Serbia was because the EA-6B was out of position. EA/EW will remain an integral part of strike warfare, and will increase in importance and capability. So again, no savings.

Agree.

However the EA-6B is the most expensive plane to operate/maintain of a carrier.

Considering how cost conscious the US Navy may have to be in future I think the EF-35 variant offers a significantly lower cost of operation. I heard that the Next Generation Jammer (NGJ) offers a substantial increase in range over the jammer on the EA-6B.

Boeings military displays at Farnborough

Boeing’s exhibit at the show will focus on unmanned systems, including the international debut of the recently unveiled Phantom Ray demonstrator, the A160 Hummingbird and the Unmanned Little Bird.

The company and its customers will display several other systems, including the air show debut of the 737-based Peace Eagle airborne early warning and control platform for the Turkish Air Force.

Getting interesting by the hour.

The race to develop an unmanned aircraft that can stay aloft for five years at a stretch has entered its second phase, where the prize is a $155 million DARPA contract to build a small-scale demonstrator model.

The project, called Vulture II, will pit three defense contractor teams–Aurora Flight Sciences, Boeing, and Lockheed Martin–against one another and the clock for the right to build a small-scale, working version of a high-altitude, electric-propelled UAV capable of remaining aloft and on station for three months.

The Vulture is expected to serve as an electronic sensor and military communications platform, and might eventually emerge as an affordable alternative to communications and reconnaissance satellites.

DARPA specs call for a 5-kilowatt power system and up to a 1,000-pound payload capacity. All three companies propose to power their aircraft with solar power during the day and batteries at night. These aircraft would operate above the clouds from 60,000 to 90,000 feet, and must be able to withstand jet stream-power winds typically found at those altitudes.

Race to develop long-range UAV enters second lap

There’s a video of the “Vulture” program at the end of the article.

OSD Eyes Near-Space UAVs

The enormous need for overhead reconnaissance to combat IEDs and to track terrorists and insurgents over large areas for long periods is driving at least one part of the Pentagon to develop so-called stratospheric UAVs that can hover above the Jet Stream for several months or more.

Near-Space UAVs will sail above the Jet Stream, between 50,000 and 70,000 feet, where there is relatively little wind — around 30 knots on average.

The F110 started off with more power because it was a modification of the more powerful F101, not simply because it was started later. (And they actually tested an F-16 with an F101 itself as well.)

I know …. it’s absolutely bullcrap to say we know anything about the power output of the F136. Besides no one is claiming knowledge of the actual specs of the F136.

Also based on the fact that funding is only “trickling in” at a snails’ pace it seems very obvious that the pace of the F136 program is being slowed down on purpose.

At the same time it isn’t that hard to conclude that at some stage late in the F35 program it will be available with its own unique set of characteristics.

Lockheed’s marketing division is so cool …. they’ll make it look like a great alternative for those customers who would buy the F35 very late say in 2030.

I am not sure what exactly “westernize” would mean. I would think it meant “Upgrade”.

– High power Next Generation Jammer (Laser, Radar All-In-One)
– Next Generation AESA and Long Range dual-seeker Scramjet A-2-A missile
– Three Conformal Weapon Bays
– Higher percentage of composites
– Inlet RCS reduction