Day: August 14, 2020

B-52H tests AGM-86B at Minot AFB

Posted on August 14, 2020 by alert5

A B-52H bomber assigned to Minot Air Force Base took off with AGM-86B air-launched cruise missiles (ALCM) in order to verify that the bomber could supply the required voltage levels to the missile’s interface with the W80-1 nuclear bomb.

Airman 1st Class Eric G. Jarman, a crew chief assigned to the 5th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, taxis a B-52H Stratofortress, Aug. 12, 2020, at Minot Air Force Base, ND. The purpose of the five to ten year comprehensive test is to demonstrate the capability of the B-52H aircraft to provide the required voltage levels for the mission configuration at the AGM-86B-to-W80 interface. The test data will be analyzed to compare against previous data in order to monitor changes in the baseline, thus indicating a design issue created by aging, aircraft modification, or a combination thereof. The required sample size for this test will meet a historical Sandia National Laboratories requirement of two B-52 aircrafts.(U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jesse Jenny)

Iraqi F-16 fleet in shambles?

Posted on August 14, 2020 by alert5

Cathy Otten of Iraq Oil Report says the Iraqi Air Force’s F-16 fleet is in shambles due to corruptions and deteriorating security relationship with the United States.

Photo: Lockheed Martin

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A PBY Catalina takes off from Pearl Harbor in preparation for the 75th commemoration of the end of WW2

Posted on August 14, 2020 by alert5

Japan to reconsider cancellation of RQ-4 purchase

Posted on August 14, 2020August 14, 2020 by alert5

Japan is said to be reconsidering the option of canceling its purchase of 3 RQ-4 Block 30i unmanned air vehicles.

U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Juan Torres

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Export numbers for Su-35 inadvertently disclosed

Posted on August 14, 2020August 14, 2020 by alert5

A chart shown to Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu during his visit to Komsomolsk-on-Amur (KnAAZ) aircraft plant has disclosed the export orders for the Su-35.

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