Software fix for EMALS validated by U.S. Navy

A software fix for the U.S. Navy’s Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) has been validated by the service. It was found during testing that the next-generation catapult generates excessive vibration to the aircraft when external fuel tanks are attached.

US Navy 101218-N-0000X-002 An F-A-18E Super Hornet is launched during a test of the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) at Naval Air Sys
By U.S. Navy photo [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
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Residents around NAF Atsugi to sue for noise pollution

The Japanese government is being sued by residents who are living around Naval Air Facility Atsugi for noise pollution. So far, around 6,000 people have signed up and the number might grow to around 10,000, a lawyer representing the group said.

Atsugi air base (2352837131)
By Yamaguchi Yoshiaki from Japan (Atugi air base) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
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Poll: Should an unmanned S-3 compete for the MQ-25A program?

The latest draft request for proposals for the MQ-25A competition suggests the U.S. Navy is only keen on having the aircraft acting as a mission tanker and less emphasis is given on its intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. An artist concept from Lockheed Martin showed a Navy buddy tanking pod hanging on a pylon. Do you think the company might just refurbish the S-3s under storage and offer them as unmanned tankers?

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Graphic: Lockheed Martin

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